PRICE  TWELVE  AND  A  HALF  CENTS. 


THE 

'HIGH   PRIVATE," 

WITH  A  FULL  AND  EXCITING  HISTORY  OF  THE 


AND   THE  "MYSTERIES   AND  MISERIES" 

OF  THE 

MEXICAN  WAR. 


IN    THREE    PARTS.-PART    FIRST. 


BY  "CORPORAL  OF  THE  GUARD/ 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  PUBLISHER. 

1848. 


THE 


"HIGH  PRIVATE," 


WITH  A  FULL  AND  EXCITING  HISTORY  OF  THE 

NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEERS, 

ILLUSTRATED  WITH  FACTS,  INCIDENTS,  ANECDOTES,  ENGRAVINGS, 
&.C.,  &c.,  INCLUDING 

THE  MYSTERIES  AND  MISERIES 


OF  THE 


MEXICAN    WAR. 


IN  THREE  PARTS,—  PART  FIRST, 

TO  WHICH  WILL  BE  APPENDED 

Tbe  Constitution  and  By-laws  of  the  Guerrillas,  Banditti,  &c* 

FOUND  ON  PRIEST  JAURATA. 

BY  "CORPORAL  OF  THE  GUARD." 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  PUBLISHERS, 

AND  FOR  SALE  BY  ALL  BOOKSELLERS  THROUGHOUT  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

1848. 


Ha 

* 


Entered  according  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  forty-eight,  by  ALBERT  LOMBARD. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


In  offering  the  following  work  to  the  world,  the  author 
claims  no  literary  attainments,  but,  simply  a  "plain,  un 
varnished  tale"  of  facts,  mysteries,  miseries,  &c.,  of  "non 
com.'s"  and  "high  privates"  during  the  Mexican  War. 
Officers  have  rendered  their  accounts  in  various  ways; 
they  have  been  feted,  honored,  puffed  and  blown  "  sky 
high,"  by  their  own  accounts,  but  the  poor  "non  com.'s" 
and  privates,  who  have  accomplished  most  of  the  WORK 
and  suffered  all  the  hardships  and  miseries  of  the  Mexican 
War,  are  left  to  the  winds  to  perish  and  die !  unknown 
and  uncared  for !  Too  truly  has  the  private  suffered — 
not  only  by  the  WTar,  bad  "  promises,"  and  bad  treatment 
by  many  officers — ^but  in  sickness,  shattered  frames  and 
broken  down  constitutions ! 

If  the  author  has  erred  or  made  any  inaccuracy  in  this 
hasty  production,  he  begs  the  kind  indulgence  of  a  liberal 
public;  and  to  the  deserving  officers,  if  he  has  done  them 
any  injury,  he  regrets  it,  and  would  say  to  a  few  officers, 
"  go,  and  sin  no  more." 

"CORPORAL  OF  THE  GUARD." 

New  York,  October,  1848. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  WINFIELD  SCOTT, 


As  he  actually  appeared  in  battle. 


GENERAL  SCOTT. 


The  engraving  on  the  opposite  page  is  a  correct  por 
traiture  of  Gen'l  Scott  and  his  horse,  as  they  actually 
appeared  in  battle,  with  the  exception  that  he  sometimes 
wore  a  broad  brimmed  Mexican  hat,  called  a  "sombrero" 

In  most  all  of  the  engravings  of  battles,  the  officers  are 
represented  as  in  full  military  dress,  with  dashing  plumes, 
&c.,  while  it  is  right  the  reverse ;  every  officer  pulls  off 
his  fine  toggery,  and  puts  on  the  undress,  or  plain  jacket 
and  common  "forage"  cap,  looking  more  like  the  private 
ready  to  take  their  chances  with  the  men ;  should  they 
expose  their  plumes  they  would  in  all  probability  be  se 
lected  for  a  "  mark,"  which  in  time  of  battle  they  have 
no  more  desire  for  than  the  men.  That  peculiar  dash 
ing  feeling  on  a  review  parade  vanishes !  and  the  officer 
finds  himself  but  a  man ! 


BANCROFT  LIBRARY 

SKETCHES,  INCIDENTS,  ANECDOTES, 

MYSTERIES  AND  MISERIES  OF  THE  FIRST 

NE¥  YORK  VOLUNTEERS, 

COL.  WARD  B.  BURNETT,  COMMANDING, 

DURING    PART    OF    1846—1847—1848. 

CHAPTER  I. 

FORMATION  OFTHE  REGIMENT  AND  THE  WAYTHEY  DID  IT! 

Extra  Pay — What  sort  of  Officers  and  Men — Composition  and  Bravery 
— Anecdotes — How  the  men  got  whiskey — A  more  genteel  way — 
The  "  big  sergeant" — First  Chapter  ended,  and  a  few  remarks  about 
the  one  that  is  to  come. 

In  the  early  part  of  November,  1846,  an  order  from 
Government  was  received  to  raise  one  regiment  of  Volun 
teers  for  "during  the  War  with  Mexico."  Accordingly, 
the  First  Regiment  was  selected,  and  Col.  Ward  B.  Bur 
nett,  Lt.  Col.  Charles  Baxter,  and  Major  J.  C.  Burnham 
were  appointed  field  officers;  they  selected  ten  places  of 
rendezvous  and  issued  notices  for  "  able-bodied  recruits 
willing  to  live  or  die  in  defence  of  our  common  country," 
promising  three  months  extra  pay,  or  three  months  ad 
vance,  and  six  months  clothing,  which  never  went  into 
operation  so  far  as  the  poor  soldier  was  concerned,  except 
the  six  months  clothing ;  the  gallant  officers  of  course, 
fared  a  little  better,  which  I  will  pay  particular  attention 
to  before  I  get  through. 


8 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 


Too  many  letters  have  been  written  by  the  officers  of 
the  volunteer  corps,  as  well  as  by  "regulars,"  to  ever 
arrive  at  real  facts  as  they  actually  occured.  The  officer 
is  inclined  to  false  pride  and  self  adulation ;  of  course, 
their  actions  are  predominent  over  all  the  best  germ  of 
manly  feeling  for  the  poor  hard-working  and  suffering 
soldier. 

"But  now  the  hand  of  fate  is  on  the  curtain, 
And  gives  the  scene  to  light." 

The  drumming  up  of  recruits  was  commenced,  and  by 
the  middle  of  December  about  eight  hundred  men  enlisted 
for  "  better  or  for  worse,"  as  they  say  in  the  marriage 
ceremony,  and  were  sent  down  to  Fort  Hamilton  to  fat 
on  bread  and  pork — with  soft  planks  for  a  bed  and  icy 
ground  to  drill  on* 

WHAT  SORT  OF  OFFICERS  AND  MEN. 

Among  the  troops  there  were  the  greatest  medley  ever 
congregated  together  in  one  regiment  during  the  War. 
For  officers  we  had  barbers,  tailors,  sportsmen,  bar-ten 
ders,  politicians,  and  a  few  gentlemen.  For  non-com  mis 
sioned,  we  had  a  pretty  considerable  variety  of  decent 
fellows — my  humble  self  included — all  promised  to  be 
made  Brigadier  Generals  or  something  else  before  "  re 
turning  from  the  wars." 

The  privates,  too,  were  all  promised  "  roast  beef  and 
two  dollars  a  day,"  plenty  of  whiskey,  "  golden  Jesuses," 
pretty  Mexican  gals,  "safe  investments,  quick  returns," 
and  every  thing  pictured  to  the  fancy. 

The  privates  were  generally  smart  active  men,  with 
the  exception  of  about  two  hundred  totally  unfit  for  ser- 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  9 

vice,  or  scarcely  anything  else — a  fraud  on  the  War  De 
partment  and  a  curse  to  the  officers  who  enlisted  them. 
But  any  thing  to  fill  up  the  ranks,  and  ho  !  for  Mexico  ! 
j£ven  the  U.  S.  Surgeon  held  no  examination  as  is  usual, 
and  so  ordered  by  the  War  Department ;  it  is  true  he 
passed  the  line  in  company  with  Col.  Bankhead,  eyeing 
each  man  and  rejecting  a  number  of  boys  unable  to  carry 
a  musket,  and  a  few  others  who  looked  the  "worse  for 
wear,"  but  they  were  soon  thrust  into  line  again  by  our 
magnanimous  officers.  Thus  was  our  regiment  composed 
of  rejected  boys,  men  who  were  diseased  and  broken  down, 
some  lame  and  blind  in  one  eye,  others,  were  sixty-year 
old  boys — with  many  beautiful  subjects,  selected  especial 
ly  "  by  order"  of  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  First 
New  York  Regiment,  bound  for  Mexico,  among  which 
were  gentlemen  from  the  Tombs,  ragamuffins  from  Black- 
well's  Island,  Alms  House,  and  a  sprinkling  of  "Five 
Pointers;"  and  a  more  rascally, lousy  set  was  never  thrown 
among  decent  men.  There  is  no  palliation  for  the  officers, 
their  conduct  was  outrageous !  to  place  men  (of  no  kind 
of  use  except  for  "turkey  buzzards")  without  having 
them  cleansed — and  their  lousy,  filthy,  and  diseased  rags 
thrown  to  the  dogs !  before  putting-  on  new  clothes,  and 
allowed  to  associate  with  decent  men.  I  say  it  was  out- 
ra^eous !  insulting  and  degrading  to  the  clean  soldier. 

The  consequence  was,  that  by  inattention  and  indolence 
on  the  part  of  the  officers  (?)  the  whole  regiment  were 
covered  with  vermin  before  they  left  Fort  Hamilton,  by  a 
few  scamps.  I  shall  have  more  to  say  about  these  live 
cattle  aboard  ship. 


10  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

COMPOSITION  AND  BRAVERY. 

The  New  York  Regiment  consisted  of  about  eight  hun 
dred  rank  and  file,  three  hundred  Americans,  the  balance 
Dutch,  Irish,  French,  English,  Poles,  Swedes,  Chinese, 
Indians,  &c.,  there  were  not  one  hundred  men  and  officers 
ever  born  in  the  City  of  New  York  in  the  whole  regiment. 
Understand  me  gentlemen,  and  kind  reader,  not  one  word 
do  I  say  against  the  bravery  of  the  New  York  Volunteers, 
I  have  not  the  least  doubt  of  their  whole-souled  genuine 
bravery ;  I  never  witnessed  men  who  could  stand  the 
"charge"  better  in  my  life.  I  have  seen  some  stand  the 
charge  of  more  than  fifty  to  one  and  scarcely  flinch,  but, 
the  "  charge"  was  harmless,  not  Mexican  spears — nothing 
more  nor  less  than  the  incorrigible  spears  of — American 
lice!  However,  to  be  serious,  it  is  said  the  greatest  tow 
ards  ivill  fight  well  when  they  get  "cornered"  or  where 
there  is  no  backing  out. 

ANECDOTES. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  troubles,  vexations  and  hard 
ships  that  naturally  exist,  we  saw  some  happy  and  funny 
moments,  consequent  upon  green  volunteer  soldiers — the 
many  jokes,  errors  and  bulls  that  usually  occur,  which 
keeps  one  alive  and  in  tolerable  good  spirits. 

At  evening  parades  the  Adjutant,  (Forrey,  by  the  way, 
a  fine  officer,  and  what  was  rare  among  volunteers,  a  gen 
tleman,)  orders  the  "  first  sergeants  to  the  front  and  cen 
tre,  march!"  he  then  commands,  "report!"  when  each 
sergeant,  commencing  on  the  right,  answer  so  many  sick 
and  absent,  or  "  all  present  and  accounted  for."  When 
it  came  to  the  turn  of  an  Irishman  to  report,  he  pays  the 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  11 

salute  in  great  agony,  and  bawls  out  at  the  top  of  his 
voice,  "  awl  absent  and  accounted  for  !"  The  stern  face 
of  the  Adjutant  was  so  convulsed  with  laughter  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  he  could  give  the  order  "first  sergeants 
to  your  post,  march  !" 

HOW  THE  MEN  GOT  WHISKEY. 

In  order  to  keep  up  military  appearance  and  to  exhibit 
a  little  rtiuskquash  authority,  sentinels  were  posted  at  all 
the  gates  to  keep  the  volunteers,  like  prisoners,  from  pass 
ing  out  and  in  without  the  "countersign,"  or  an  order 
from  his  highness  "  officer  of  the  day  !"  But  it  would'nt 
do!  Soldiers  would  get  out  of  the  Fort  some  way,  and 
how  the  officers  could  not  tell,  they  swore,  stamped>  and 
looked  ten  thousand  daggers!  "  They  would  be  damned 
if  they  would  not  put  on  double  guard."  "Post  double 
guard,  sir,  and  you  will  find  double  the  men  out-siders," 
says  the  present  most  humble  servant,  Corporal  of  the 
Guard.  "  Blood  and  zounds!  what  in  hell  does  all  this 
mean — can  we  have  no  authority  over  the  men  ?"  "  Yes 
sir  !"  I  replied, "  by  taking  away  your  sentinels  and  treat 
ing  the  soldiers  like  men,  not  like  prisoners!  and  my  word 
for  it,  not  one  man  would  leave  his  quarters  where  ten 
do  now." 

There  were  different  ways  and  means  of  quitting  the 
Fort  without  as  much  as  saying  "  by  your  leave  sir."  The 
most  prominent  was,  march  boldly  up  to  the  guard,  touch 
your  cap  and  expose  slyly  a  whiskey  bottle ;  that  was 
sufficient  to  overcome  all  obstacles  of  our  warriors,"  pass 
on,"  all  "  O.  K."  So  out  the  soldier  goes  after  his  whis 
key,  returning  pays  toll  by  giving  the  sentinel  a  smack 
at  the  welcome  cure-all. 


12  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

A  MORE  GENTEEL  WAY. 

Or,  to  be  more  military  and  of  more  consequence,  heads 
up!  march  boldly  to  within  ten  feet  of  the  guard  ;  when 
he  commands  a  halt,  looking  as  savage  as  a  "  Five  Point 
pugilist" — says, "  who  comes  there  ?"  "  A  friend,"  is  the 
reply.  "Advance  friend,  and  give  the  countersign."  The 
soldier  then  advances,  and  gives  the  countersign  among 
friends — "whiskey!"  "All  right!  pass  on.  Isaysoger! 
come  back  soon  as  you  can ;  for  I  am  cold  and  infernally 
dry!"  -  The  kind  hearted,  but  deceived  officer,  all  this 
time  admiring,  at  a  distance,  how  strictly  military  his 
sentinel  does  his  duty. 

"  THE  BIG  SERGEANT." 

1  do  not  profess  being  an  adept  at  relating  stories,  but 
the  following  illustrates  the  bravery  of  one  at  any  rate. 
An  Irishman,  fresh  caught,  who  stood  six  feet  four,  stout 
in  proportion,  and  with  abundance  of  blarney,  so  delight 
ed  our  officers  that  they  appointed  him  sergeant,  not  for 
his  capabilities,  (for  he  hardly  knew  how  to  carry  a  mus 
ket,)  but  for  his  big  figure,  &c.,  he  must  be  appointed 
over  an  American  born,  and  whose  father  was  an  old  re 
volutionary  soldier* and  who  was  the  choice  of  the  com 
pany  by  twenty-five  to  seven  votes. 

The  "  big  sergeant"  had  but  arrived  in  this  country 
three  days  when  he  enlisted;  he  bragged  of  his  being  a 
great  soldier  in  the  "  ould  counthry,"  and  in  frequent 
fights,  &c.,  but  finally  acknowledged  that  he  was  only  a 
guard  at  some  prison  in  Ireland,  and  that  all  the  fights  he 
ever  had  were  with  the  rum  bottle  for  not  holding  enough, 
and  which  often  whipped  him,  so  much  so,  by  his  own 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  13 

story,  "  the  directors  discharged  me,"  and  he  was  com 
pelled  to  seek  America,  "  the  land  of  free  whiskey  and 
the  home  of  the  desolate."  Being  on  a  4C  bit  of  a  spree" 
one  night,  with  sword  all  buckled  on,  and  rigged  up  in 
his  best,  our  "  big  sergeant"  heard  a  loud  noise,  hurraing, 
&c.,  which  was  occassioned  by  the  arrival  of  the  Albany 
Company,  full  of  fun  and  war!  It  being  very  dark  they 
could  scarcely  be  seen,  our  hero — the  "  officer-made-ser- 
geant" — beat  a  retreat,  and  carne  rush:ng  into  our  quar 
ters,  pale  as  death,  exclaiming,  "  wha-t-s  tha-t  ?  thunder 
and  ounes!  the  Mexicans  are  coming!"  In  a  few  min 
utes  we  calmed  him  by  the  solemn  assurance  that  they 
were  nothing  but  "our  boys,"  real  Americans.  Subse 
quently  he  turned  into  his  bunk  with  his  sword  and  equip 
ments  all  on,  ready  should  the  Mexicans  make  their 
appearance  at  Fort  Hamilton  ! 

"  So  endeth  the  first  lesson." 

In  my  next  chapter  I  shall  attempt  to  give  an  account 
of  a  meeting  at  Centre  Hall,  Col.  Burnett's  speech,  ad 
vising  the  recruits  to  go  down  to  Fort  Hamilton  and  live 
on  roast  beef,  &c.,  and  his  speech  at  Fort  Hamilton, 
delivered  in  writing  in  the  presence  of  the  battalion,  tell 
ing  how  kind  the  City  of  New  York  had  been  in  giving 
us  five  thousand  dollars  for  our  "comfort,"  and  that  we 
should  have  sewed  shoes  extra,  whiskey,  sweetmeats, 
sugar  candy,  &c.  To  conclude  with  the  conclusion  and 
winding  up  of  a  number  of  other  chapters  of  "  the  same 
sort." 


14  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Recruits  at  Centre  Hall— Col.  Burnett's  Speech — Ho !  for  Fort  Hamil* 
ton— The  way  to  Recruit— Sergeants  treating  the  Greenhorns — Cor 
poral  of  the  Guard's  arrival  at  the  Fort — Life  in  the  Fort— Whiskey 
forbidden— Cold  Tea,  &c. 

In  the  latter  part  of  November,  1846,  a  portion  of  the 
new  recruits  met  "by  order"  at  Centre  Hall,  where  they 
"were  formed  into  line  as  straight  as  a  crooked  stick, 
•when  the  "  dashing  white  sergeant"  gave  orders  to 
" dress  !"  "  dress  by  the  right !"  " dress  back  on  the  left!" 
"steady  in  the  centre!"  "heads  up !"  "front!"  &c.,  &c., 
but  it  was  of  no  use,  you  might  as  well  straighten  the 
Sea  Serpent.  Most  of  them  being  raw  recruits,  and 
some  fresh  caught  from  the  "  land  of  bogs,"  and  of  all 
sizes  and  sorts.  Perhaps  they  might  have  been  reflecting 
on  that  roast  beef  and  "  three  months  advance"  at  Fort 
Hamilton,  when  in  came  our  gallant  Colonel,  looking 
like  a  cropped  Canadian  pony  ;  three  distinct  cheers  were 
given—"  long  live  our  noble  Colonel."  "  Hurra  for  roast 
beef."  "  Go  it  Jimmy  !"  "  Down  with  Santer  Ranner," 
&c.,  &c.  It  was  several  minutes  before  the  Colonel 
could  command  silence,  when  he  commenced  nearly  as 
follows. 

THE  SPEECH. 

"  Fellow  soldiers  and  comrades  !"  (curious  comrades, 
thinks  I,  judging  from  outward  appearances,)  "  we  have 
met  for  the  first  time  together,"  (long  pause.)  "  I  am 
glad  to  see  so  many  fine  looking  fellows,"  (three  cheers! 
hurra  for  Mexico!)  "Yes!  with  such  men  I  am  proud 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  15 

to  lead  on  to  Mexico!"  (tremendous  cheering.)  "You 
shall  share  with  me — my  bed  shall  be  your  bed — ray 
food,  your  food" — (gammon  !) — "In  the  toils  and  hard 
ships  of  war,  we  will  all  share  alike,"  (three  cheers, 
that's  it!  that's  the  way  we  do  it  at  Five  Points!  good! 
go  it!)  "Now,  my  brave  fellows,  I  wish  all  those  who 
have  got  nothing  to  eat,  nor  hole  to  lay  his  carcass  in — 
would  go  to  Fort  Hamilton,  where  there's  plenty  of  every 
thing."  (Hurra  for  that !  I'll  go  !)  "  I  have  engaged 
good  quarters,  and  you  can  all  have  good  beds,  and 
plenty  of  roast  beef  and  potatoes."  (Nine  cheers  for 
that !  hurra  !  hurra  !  for  roast  beef  and  'taters  !)  "  I 
now  take  my  most  respectful — good  night."  (Three 
cheers  for  Col.  Burnett  and  roast  beef  !  hip  !  hip !  hurra! 
hurra!  hurra!  ha!  ha!)  By  the  sergeant,  "attention! 
company!  by  the  right  flank,  left  face!"  (Music.) 
"  Match  !"  And  away  they  do  march,  up  and  down 
like  a  sheep's  hind  leg,  is  a  caution  to  regulars.  Thus 
ends  the  first  interview. 

HO  !    FOR  FORT  HAMILTON. 

Next  morning  about  two  hundred  recruits  sailed  for 
the  Fort  in  high  glee — instead  of  soft  beds  they  found 
hard  planks,  and  a  thin  horse  blanket,  with  a  stick  of 
wood  for  pillow  and  bolster;  and  instead  of  "roast  beef 
and  taters,"  they  were  glad  to  get  raw  pork  and  hard 
crackers.  O  !  the  horrors  of  war  ! — The  mean  and 
unmanly  deception  of  the  officers.  However,  many  fared 
better  than  they  had  been  in  the  habit  of.  They  were 
well  aware  that  there  were  no  accommodations  provi 
ded  for  them;  and  to  send  men  in  the  cold  of  winter, 
was  inhuman,  to  say  the  least  of  it. 


16  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

THE  WAY  TO  RECRUIT. 

Time  passed  on,  and  recruiting  went  on — "  come,  my 
dear  fellow,  won't  you  list?  glorious  times  !  roast  beef, 
ice  creams,  and  three  months'  advance  !  You  can  leave 
your  dear  wife  and  children  behind  with  plenty  of  money 
and  draw  part  of  your  pay  in  your  absence.  Glorious 
times!  Come  take  something  to  drink  wilh  me — here's 
a  health  to  old  Zack !  Glorious  times!  plenty  to  eat 
and  drink — and  if  you  are  a  pretty  good  fellow,  we'll 
make  a  sergeant  of  you.  Nothing  so  happy  as  a  soldier's 
life — music  all  day — no  work — only  a  little  drill  now 
and  then — that's  fun  !  Come  my  boy  !  let's  take  anoth 
er  glass,  and  I'll  show  you  our  rendezvous.  Fine  offi 
cers — real  gentlemen  !  All  we  have  got  to  do  is — have 
a  fine  sea  voyage  to  Vera  Cruz,  (Uncle  Sam  pays  our 
passage,)  bombard  the  City — swallow  the  Castle — and 
come  home  again  with  plenty  of  gold  in  our  pockets  and 
lots  of  glory  in  our  bones!"  And  so  the  days  would 
move  on,  the  Sergeant  "treating"  the  green  'uns,  bring 
ing  them  to  the  rendezvous  for  exhibition  to  the  worthy 
Captain  or  Lieutenant,  who  would  "treat"  again,  and 
tell  the  poor  fellow  all  about  the  glory  and  money  he 
would  naturally  receive  from  his  good  appearance,  &c., 
how  good  and  kind  they  would  be,  and  in  case  of  sick 
ness  it  cost  him  nothing,  and  they  would  stick  by  him — 
roast  beef  and  sweet  potatoes  were  nothing  to  be  com 
pared  to  their  promises — every  man,  too,  should  be  "  made 
a  Sergeant  or  Corporal"  and  perhaps  a  Lieutenant  should 
any  of  them  be  so  lucky  as  to  "shuffle  off  this  mortal 
coil."  (Pity  some  did'nt  before  they  left  the  Fort,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  rising  generation.) 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  17 


December  third  another  batch  of  "  sogers"  was  sent  to 
the  Fort,  but  quite  a  different  lot  from  those  -who  went 
previous ;  among  the  "  batch"  was  the  "  Corporal  of  the 
Guard"  and  other  distinguished  and  notorious  gentlemen. 
We  found  any  thing  else  but  what  had  been  represented 
to  us  by  the  officers. 

LIFE  IN  THE  FORT. 

We  found  cold  weather,  good  hard  floors  and  a  very 
light  apology  for  a  blanket,  we  began  to  think  that  the 
"horrors  of  war"  had  come  in  reality,  leaving  a  luxuri 
ous  home  and  a  gocd  led,  to  sleep  on  a  hard  plank,  was 
not  so  very  agreeable  as  most  people  imagine. 

We  cursed — we  swore  ! 
We  ripped  and  tore  ! ! 

One  fine  chap  said  "  he  didn't  want  to  go  any  further,  he 
had  got  enough  of  the  War  for  the  last  twenty-four 
hours,"  and  left  for  the-  City  in  double-quick  time  ;  he 
was  subsequently  caught,  brought  back,  and  the  poor 
fellow's  bones  are  now  bleaching  on  the  heights  of  Cerro 
Gordo  !  After  strong  talk,  spiced  with  threats  of  leaving 
the  officers  "  alone  in  their  glory,"  we  made  a  raise  of 
fresh  beef  and  bread — 'taters  were  scarce,  for  some  rea 
son  they  dare  not  appear  in  sight  of  the  enemy.  "  Re 
freshments"  such  as  whiskey,  &c.,  had  "to  be  smuggled  in 
from  a  small  grocery  near  the  "  outward  walls"  of  the 
Fort ;  ardent  spirits  were  forbidden  to  be  brought  in,  yet 
the  grandiloquent  officers,  superior  in  flesh,  mind  and 
soul,  could  soak  till  some  were  unfit  to  appear  on  parade  ! 
But  there  were  various  ways  to  avoid  detection  by  the 


18  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

officers,  and  it  did  not  take  much  wit  or  talent  to  deceive 
them.  Whiskey  would  get  in  some  way,  in  spite  of  all 
the  orders  they  might  issue.  It  was  not  that  the  officers 
had  any  particular  regaid  for  our  souls,  or  any  particular 
objection  to  our  taking  a  drop  now  and  then,  but  to  beat 
them  in  drinking,  (which  was  hard  to  do,)  they  did  not 
relish  at  all.  Then  again  there  might  not  be  enough  left 
for  their  rummy  heads. 

THE  "CORPORAL'*  GOING  AFTER  COLD  TEA. 
One  morning  very  early,  it  being  my  turn  to  go  after 
bitters,  I  approached  the  grocery  with  all  the  dignity  of 
one  who  feels  the  importance  and  responsibility  of  his 
situation  !  and  not  expecting  to  meet  any  one  so  early — 
I  was  somewhat  surprised  to  behold  a  half-a-dozen  big 
and  little  Lieutenants,  with  their  eyes  half  open,  rapping 
at  the  grocery  for  the  boy  to  "  arise  and  come  forth !"  for 
they  "  were  dry  and  thirsty"  and  wanted  drink !  As  I 
appeared  in  front  of  the  thirsty  tribe  of  warriors — for 
there  was  no  backing  out  or  chapperal  to  hide  in — 1 
hastily  touched  my  cap,  when  one  of  the  smartest  in  the 
crowd  observed,  u  well,  Corporal,  what  do  you  want  at 
this  time  in  the  morning  ?"  I  replied,  "  a  little  tea,  sir." 
"  O  you  rascal,  a  little  cold  tea!"  said  another  bright 
one,  whose  head  looked  as  if  it  had  caught  cold  last 
night  sleeping  side  of  a  brandy  cask.  Moreover  never 
theless,  the  boy  arose,  came  forth  gaping  like  a  sick 
child — in  short,  we  all  got  our  tea  and  vamosed. 

"  Still  so  gently  o'er  me  .stealing, 
Fond  ivhiskey  brings  back  the  feeling." 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  19 

DRUMMING. 

At  daylight  (tattoo)  we  were  drummed  up,  at  seven 
drummed  to  the  "  doctor's,"  at  nine  drummed  to  "  mount 
guard,"  at  ten  drummed  to  morning  parade  and  drill,  at 
twelve  drummed  to  dinner,  at  two  drummed  to  company 
drills,  at  four  drummed  to  evening  parade,  &c.,  at  eight 
drummed  to  bed,  and  its  nothing  but  drum,  drum — all 
night  dreaming  about  "  right  face !"  "  front  face  !" 
" shoulder  arms  !"  "charge  bayonets!"  and — salt  pork. 

"Home,  home,  sweet,  sweet  home, 
Be  it  ever  so  humble 
There's  uo  place  like  home." 

ANOTHER  WAY  OF  RECRUITING NOT    SPOKEN   OF    IN   MODERN 

OR  ANCIENT  HISTORY. 

Another  way  of  recruiting,  never  before  "written  in 
the  bills,"  and  showing  great  Yankee  ingenuity,  was  to 
publish  an  advertisement  for  "  Mechanics  and  Laborers 
to  go  South — good  wages,  and  passage  free,"  which 
brought  large  numbers  to  the  rendezvous ;  many  were 
caught  and  deluded  by  the  thrilling  and  splendid  account 
of  a  glorious  campaign,  promising  three  months  extra 
pay  and  a  bran  new  suit  of  clothes ;  after  treating,  &c., 
the  poor  fellow  was  induced  to  sign  the  muster  roll,  and 
politely  invited  to  take  a  ride  to  Fort  Hamilton  to  receive 
the  hospitalities  of  that  great  and  glorious  institution,  for 
the  cultivation  of  vermin  and  manufacturing  of  great 
men ! 


20  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  Muss — Six  Months'  Clothing — New  Toggery— Col.  Burnett's  Speech 
to  the  Battalion — Ditto  to  the  Albany  Company — Twenty-one  Dollars 
— The  Corporation — Horrors  of  the  War,  &c. 

A  CUT  UNDER  THE  FIFTH  RIB. 

After  arriving  at  the  Fort,  it  was  very  difficult  to  ever 
return,  you  were  treated  so  very  politely;  and  the  recruit 
finds  that  he  has  been  most  egregiously  mistaken  or 
hoaxed,  that  he  has  "  barked  up  the  wrong  tree,"  is 
"done  for,"  "used  up,"  and  very  liable  to  get  "into  a 
muss"  if  he  dares  to  say  a  word,  or  even  ask  Col.  Bur 
nett  for  a  few  cents  for  his  suffering  family,  or  for  a  small 
portion  of  that  "  five  thousand  dollars"  the  City  gave  for 
the  "aid  and  comfort"  of  the  poor  soldier,  which  the 
"Corporal  of  the  Guard"  will  have  something  very  par 
ticular  to  say  on  the  subject,  which  may  cause  an  irrup 
tion  of  Mount  Burnett. 

*   *   *    "Would'st  thou  drown  thyself, 
Put  but  a  little  water  in  a  spoon, 
And  it  shall  be  as  all  the  ocean — 
Enough  to  stiffle  such  a  hypocrite  up." 


On  the  16th  of  December,  1846,  nearly  all  the  troops 
were  mustered  into  the  service — our  military  toggery 
delivered  to  the  men,  and  the  way  the  old  clothes  were 
dragged  about  the  parade  ground  by  the  fellow  animals, 
which  had  so  long  kept  company  near  the  body,  (and 
much  nearer  the  heart  than  many  women  ever  get,)  was 
a  caution  to  any  thing  in  the  bug  line.  Many  were  the 
jokes  cracked  at  our  new  appearance,  some  of  whom  had 


-  *  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  2 1 

scarcely  ever  felt  the  sensation  of  "  military  toggery"  or 
a  new  suit  of  clothes,  and  appeared  quite  at  a  loss  to 
know  how  to  walk  or  march  !  But  the  way  our  young 
and  magnanimous  officers,  and  our  glorious,  great  and 
splendid  corps  of  "non  corn's"  (the  brave  "  Corporal" 
among  the  number)  did  walk  over  the  course  was  a  sin 
to  Gen,  Bombastes — saluting  each  other  as  they  passed 
and  re-passed — swords  dangling  by  their  sides — all  look 
ing  savage  as  an  old  war-horse !  Eyes  flashing !  and 
thinking  and  dreaming  of  unutterable  things  and  doings. 

"Here  comes  my  mortal  enemy, 
Eith'er  he  must  fall  in  fight — or  I !" 

COL.  BURNETT'S  SPEECH,  (IN  PART,) 

Delivered  before  the  New  York  Battalion  at  Fort  Hamil 
ton,  December,  1848,  in  presence  of  a  large  number 
of  ladies  and  gentlemen  (the  "latest  news  never  before 
published,")  on  the  "five  thousand  dollars  appropria 
tion." 

"Fellow  soldiers!  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  meet  you 
here  to-day.  Your  noble  bearing,  good  conduct  and  ap 
pearance,  satisfy  me  that  your  Colonel  will  have  reason 
to  be  proud  of  you.  The  City  Councils  of  New  York 
have  made  an  appropriation  for  your  benefit,"  (what's 
become  of  it  ?)  "  by  which  I  shall  be  enabled  to  give 
you  many  necessaries,  and  comforts  in  case  of  sickness. 
You  shall  also  have  new  shoes  !  not  Government  pegged 
shoes,  but  real  sewed  shoes,  India  rubber  tent  cloths," 
&c.,  &c.,  and  other  things  too  tedious  to  mention. — 
"  Fellow  soldiers  !  you  ought  to  thank  the  City  Corpora 
tion  for  their  liberal  donation."  The  "  soldiers"  do  thank 


22  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

the  Corporation,  and  the  "  soldiers"  would  "  thank"  Col. 
Burnett  to  deliver  over  a  part  of  the  plunder.  As  most 
of  your  brave  and  deluded  men  have  perished  under  your 
command,  and  cannot  receive  the  "comforts"  you  pro 
mised,  (if  they  had  many  might  have  now  been  among 
the  living,)  I  would  suggest  that  the  amount  be  given  to 
the  widows  and  orphans  of  the  poor  soldiers  who  have 
lost  their  lives  during  the  War  in  Mexico;  by  so  doing, 
you  may  retrieve  some  of  your  lost  character  for  honor 
and  honesty.  To  charge  you  with  cowardice  I  do  not — 
but  I  charge  you  with  cheating,  swindling  and  deceiving 
the  poor  soldier  of  his  rights  ! 

TWENTY-ONE  DOLLARS  !     TWENTY-ONE  DOLLARS  ! 

The  men  who  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  live, 
have  not  forgot  the  inducement  of  "  twenty-one  dollars" 
by  reason  of  which  they  enlisted — many,  for  the  purpose 
of  leaving  a  mite  at  home  for  their  suffering  families,  in 
the  dead  of  winter.  Here  let  me  charge  you,  and  per 
haps  a  few  others,  of  direct  or  indirect  ruin  and  the 
breaking  up  of  many  interesting  families,  by  deception ! 
fraud  !  and  the  keeping  of  monies  for  your  own  private 
ends  and  speculation,  given  by  the  liberal,  honorable, 
and  whole-souled,  heart-felt  Corporation  of  the  City  of 
New  York,  for  the  aid  and  comfort  of  those  poor  men 
who  volunteered  to  fight  and  die  for  them  and  their  con 
stituents.  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  a  personal  acquain 
tance  with  any  member  of  the  Corporation,  but  I  believe 
their  intentions  were  good,  that  they  have  been  deceived, 
and  that  they  are  satisfied  with  the  deception  imposed 
upon  them,  so  much  so,  that  their  last  appropriations^ 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  23 

God  bless  them,  have  been  made  so  that  they  knew  the 
"  soldier"  got  his  rights,  and  not  to  another  person  for 
selfish  purposes,  who  perhaps  if  he  had  the  management 
the  "medals'3  might  have  been  scarce  of  silver! 
Little  did  he  think— 

"  A  chiel's  amang  ye  takin1  notes, 
And  faith  he'll  prent  'em  !" 

COL.  BURNETT'S  SPEECH  TO  THE  ALBANY  COMPANY. 
A  fine  company  of  men,  under  command  of  the  gallant 
and  much  lamented  Capt.  Van  Olinda,  arrived  at  the 
Fort  about  the  tenth  of  December,  under  the  impression 
that  they  were  to  be  treated  like  freemen  and  not  like 
slaves,  and  learning  that  there  was  some  doubt  about  re 
ceiving  the  long  promised  "  twenty-one  dollars"  or  three 
months  extra  pay  in  advance,  they  kicked,  refused  to  do 
duty,  and  swore  to  return  unless  they  were  honorably 
dealt  by;  Captain  Van  Olinda  was  not  in  the  least  to 
blame,  and  used  all  his  exertions  to  satisfy  the  men,  when 
our  lord  and  honorable  Colonel  steps  in  front  of  the  Com 
pany  and  addresses  them  thus — '•'  My  dear  fellows  I  have 
been  disappointed ;  the  funds  which  were  expected  to 
assist  the  poor  soldier,  and  which  they  must  naturally 
stand  so  much  in  need  of — has  not  arrived,  but  you 
shall  receive  your  pay  as  promised — if  I  pay  it  out  of 
iny  own  pocket.  I  pledge  you  my  honor."  (Precious 
honor  it  has  proved.)  "So  I  beg  you  will  return  to  your 
duty  like  men  ;  and  follow  me  to  the  bloody  battle-field, 
and  return  with  all  the  honors  of  war  !"  (Some  cheer 
ing  and  hissing.)  They  did  return  indeed  !  Out  of  one 
hundred  men  that  he  addressed,  abput  sixteen  returned  ! 


24  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

and  the  wives,  sisters,  mothers  and.  fathers  of  many  of 
those  brave  men,  are  now  weeping  and  suffering  from 
the  loss  of  their  friends  and  relations. 

Ye  Gods !  Colonel  !  if  you  have  one  spark  of  human 
feeling,  you  must  weep  !  Your  sleepless  nights  must  be 
painful  indeed — to  dream  of  those  bones  you  have  left  on 
the  field  of  battle,  unknown  arid  uncared  for,  or  you  must 
have  a  heart  of  adamant !  I  leave  you  to  your  own  re 
flections — and  when  you  die,  even  should  it  be  on  the 
gallows,  "  may  God  Almighty  have  mercy  on  your  soul ;" 
for  precious  little  mercy  will  those  have  who  lost  friends 
by  accessory  deeds  of  indirect,  if  not  positive  manslaughter 
and  murder  !  Oh  !  my  dear  Sir,  you  need  not  tremble  ! 
I  could  wish  no  greater  punishment,  than  you  to  hear 
the  curses  of  the  living,  or  the  imaginations  of  your  mind, 
of  .those  whom  you  have  been  the  cause  of  destruction, 
and  almost  the  entire  ruin  of  the  whole  New-York  Regi 
ment,  which,  I  hope,  will  give  you  "  glory  enough  for 
one  day  !" 

"If  there's  vengeance  in  an  injured  heart, 
And  power  to  wreak  it  in  an  armed  hand, 
Your  hearts  shall  ache  for  it." 


THE    HIGH    PRIVATE.  25 

' 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Black  Slave  vs.  White  Slave — The  difference  in  mortality  between  the 
officers  and  men — Tyranny — Inhumanity — Fraud — Privates  as  good 
as  anybody,  &c.,  &c. — With  a  touch  of  the  Poetical. 

FALSE    INDUCEMENTS. 

IF  it  is  cruel  to  drag  black  men  from  their  homes,  how 
much  more  cruel  it  is  to  drag  white  men  from  their 
homes  under  false  inducements,  and  compelling  them  to 
leave  their  wives  and  children,  without  leaving  a  cent  or 
any  protection,  in  the  coldest  season  of  the  year,  to  die  in 
a  foreign  and  sickly  climate  !  "  But/'  says  the  reader, 
"  why  did  they  enlist,  and  leave  their  families  in  distress  ?" 
The  answer  is,  many  enlisted  for  the  sake  of  their  families, 
having  no  employment,  and  having  been  offered  "  three 
month's  advance,"  and  were  promised  that  they  could 
leave  part  of  their  pay  for  their  families  to  draw  in  their 
absence.  They,  poor  duped  men,  but  with  patriotic  and 
noble  feelings  toward  their  wives  and  children,  sacrificed 
every  thing  for  the  sole  purpose  of  their  support.  Thus, 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri 
vates  have  been  cheated,  swindled,  and  their  families  left 
destitute,  by  ^rascally  promises  and  deception  !  I  boldly 
pronounce,  that  the  whole  Regiment  was  got  up  by 
fraud — a  fraud  on  the  soldier,  a  fraud  on  the  City  of 
New-York,  and  a  fraud  on  the  Government  of  the  United 
States — and  Col.  Ward  B.  Burnett  and  his  gang  can 
make  the  most  of  it. 


26  THE    HIGH   PRIVATE. 

THE    DIFFERENCE    IN   MORTALITY. 

It  appears  not  twenty  in  one  hundred  men  that  origin 
ally  went  out  with  the  New-York  Regiment  ever  re 
turned,  as  four  out  of  five  either  died  or  were  killed  ; 
and  of  the  officers,  not  one  in  eight  were  killed  or_died, 
or  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  officers  over  eighty  returned, 
when  of  the  men,  but  twenty  returned  ! 

Why  this  tremendous  difference  in  mortality!  Why 
should  men  die  or  be  killed  more  than  the  officers  1 
Were  not  the  officers  as  brave  as  the  men  ?  They  brag 
of  their  bravery  and  sufferings  !  There  is  a  very  good 
reason  why  the  officers  suffered  with  so  little  loss,  in  com 
parison  with  the  rank  and  file.  The  officers  were  taken 
better  care  of,  (or  took  better  care  of  themselves,  for 
they  could  form  an  excuse  of  sickness  previous  to  a  battle, 
but  the  sick  man  must  go  anyhow  /)  and  he  had  more 
assistance,  nourishment,  and  attendance,  when  sick,  than 
the  poor  private,  who  was  his  equal,  and  in  many  cases, 
his  superior.  He  was  often  left  with  an  ignorant  and 
tyranical  doctor,  not  fit  to  butcher  dogs,  or,  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  the  traiterous  Mexican.  Does  this  prove  that 
the  officers  suffered  with  the  men  ?  And,  one  would 
think,  from  the  many  valorous  letters  written  home  by 
the  officers, "they  had  done  all  the  fighting,  all  the  work, 
and  received  all  the  wounds  and  sufferings,  (they  re 
ceived  all  the  pay,  I  admit,)  but,  let  me  tell  them,  there 
were  men  in  the  ranks  of  the  volunteers  superior  in  drill, 
in  intellect,  and  with  higher  notions  of  honor  and 
honesty  !  who  had  families  and  relatives  at  home  where 
many  of  the  officers  would  hardly  be  allowed  to  eat  a 
meal  of  victuals  in  their  kitchens. 


THE    HIGH    PRIVATE.  27 

"  I    AM    A    MAN,   AND   LIVE  !" 

Such  was  one-half  the  abuse  and  treatment  received 
by  the  men,  many  of  whom,  I  believe,  were  indirectly 
murdered  by  bad  treatment,  and  the  inhumanity  of  their 
officers  !  I  do  not  charge  all,  God  knows — there  were  a 
few  officers  that  had  a  spark  of  feeling  left,  but  they 
were  scarce. 

God  has  given  as  free  and  noble  a  soul  to  the  private 
as  to  the  officer ;  but,  envy  and  scorn  are  too  often  his 
portion — they  do  not  like  to  see  themselves  outstripped 
by  one  whom  they  consider  no  better  than  themselves, 
and  instead  of  encouraging,  they  dampen  his  ardor  with 
sneers  and  cold  looks,  and  fill  his  heart  with  grief. 

'•  Brutes  may  bear  bondage— they  were  made  for  it, 
When  heaven  set  men  above  them  ;  but  no  mark 
Definite  and  indelible,  it  put 
Upon  one  man  to  mark  another, 
That  he  should  live  his  slave.     O  heavy  curse ! 
To  have  thought,  reason,  judgment,  feelings,  tastes, 
Passions  and  conscience  like  another  man, 
And  not  have  equal  liberty  to  use  them." 

Oh  !  if  a  few  of  my  unfortunate  comrades  could  have 
but  returned— and  exclaimed — 

"  I  arn  a  man,  and  live  ! !" 

they  would  have  given  all  the  world  for  one  deep  damn 
ing  look  at  their  officers,  and  die  with  pleasure  ! 


28  THE    HIGH   PRIVATE. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Trouble  in  camp — Non-Commissioned  Officers  holding  private  meet 
ings — The  Colonel's  veto  on  it — Arrest  of  Sergeant  O'Reily — Strong 
talk  of  "  a  muss" — A  little  more  about  the  "twenty-one  dollars" — 
The  "  five  thousand  dollars" — Capt.  Shaw — Two  ships  in  sight — "A 
muss" — Lieut.  Col.  Baxter — Col.  Burnett,  with  respects. 

INSUBORDINATION. 

A  few  days  previous  to  our  departure  to  the  land  of 
death  and  slaughter,  the  troops  became  dissatisfied  in  re 
gard  to  their  treatment,  and  showed  strong  symtoms  of 
insubordination,  desertion,  &c.  The  "  non  com.'s"  held 
private  meetings  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  stand,  un 
less  the  "  three  month's  extra  pay"  was  forthcoming,  or, 
before  leaving  our  Christian  soil ;  in  consequence,  the 
noble  and  honest  Colonel,  (who  had  so  much  kind  feel 
ing  for  the  welfare  of  the  soldier,)  gave  orders  that  no 
more  meetings  should  be  held,  under  the  penalty  of  his 
castigation — nor  should  more  than  two  "  npn  com.'s"  be 
seen  together  at  one  and  tTie  same  time.  The  men 
became  more  and  more  dissatisfied.  Mothers,  wives, 
and  suffering  children — crying  for  money  to  buy  bread, 
which  they  were  expecting  to  receive  from  the  ^promised 
"  three  month's  pay."  Sergt.  O'Reily  was  arrested,  and 
a  few  privates  put  under  guard  ;  but  it  was  of  no  use, — 
the  men  were  bound  to  have  "  a  rnuss,"  and  would  have 
had  one  if  it  were  not  for  a  few  accidents  that  occurred. 
The  "  three  month's  extra"  was  continued  to  be  thrust 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  29 

down  their  throats,  and  Sergt.  O'Reily,  (since  been  made 
Sergt.  Major,)  was  reduced  to  "high  private,"  and  or 
dered  to  leave  the  fort  in  one  hour  ! 

THE  "FIVE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS." 

Another  difficulty — the  men  were  not  satisfied  in  re 
gard  to  the  appropriation  by  the  City  of  five  thousand 
dollars  for  the  "  aid  and  comfort"  of  the  "  non  com.'s" 
and  privates,  and  a  number  met,  chose  a  select  commit 
tee,  who  waited  upon  Col.  Burnett,  politely  enquiring 
when  we  were  to  receive  our  share  or  benefit  from  the 
"  appropriation,"  as  many  were  about  to  leave  families 
in  the  rear  who  needed  assistance.  The  reply  was  "that 
we  need  not  trouble  ourselves  about  our  families,  that 
they  would  be  taken  care  of,"  and  ordered  us  to  our 
quarters,  giving  no  satisfaction  whatever.  A  few  mo 
ments  had  hardly  expired  when  the  committee  were  or 
dered  under  arrest  for  daring  to  approach  his  dignity  and 
self -consequence  !  Capt.  Shaw,  (Pashaw  !  it  should  be,) 
made  himself  conspicuous  (when  there  was  no  enemy  in 
front)  at  the  Fort — went  to  Mexico — returned — and  eter 
nally  damned  his  tyrannical  idea  of  military  power ! — 
<(  he  fought,  died  !  bled  and"  literally  "  ran  away."  In 
peace,  he  was  the  bravest  man  in  the  regiment — in  war, 
he  was  the  biggest  coward ! 

"  Princes  and  lords  may  flourish  or  may  fade, 
A  breath  can  make  them,  as  a  breath  has  made  ; 
But  a  bold  yeomanry,  their  country's  pride, 
When  once  destroyed  can  never  be  supplied." 

TWO  SHIPS  IN  SIGHT. 

Now  "comes  the  tug  of  war."     Two  ships  were  in 
3* 


30  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

sight,  said  to  have  been  sent  down  in  a  hurry  in  order  to 
put  the  refractory  aboard.  The  following  day  five  com 
panies,  A,  C,  D,  E  and  G  were  ordered  to  hold  them 
selves  in  readiness  to  "board  ship."  "  Such  a  row,  such 
a  rumpus"  you  never  did  see ! 

"A  MUSS." 

The  men  raved  and  swore  they  were  "cheated,"  "de 
ceived,"  "  swindled !"  and  that  they  never  would  go 
aboard  with  a  "whole  s'tin"  on,  "traitors  in  the  camp  !" 
no  "money!"  no  "extra  pay,"  no  chance  of  bidding 
"FAREWELL"  to  families  and  friends!  but  drove  on  board- 
a-ship  like  slaves !  "Who  cares?"  thinks  the  officers, 
"  we  can  bid  our  wives  and  children  good  bye  !  only  get 
the  poor  devil  of  a  private  aboard,  all  will  be  safe." 
But  revenge  !  the  men  swore  sooner  or  later ;  but,  alas  ! 
but  few  returned  !  and  those  few  who  have  returned  are 
broken  down  in  spirits  and  health ;  some  to  learn  the 
loss  of  their  wives,  while  some  have  either  died,  run 
away,  or  have  been  seduced  by  the  very  friends  who 
promised  protection!  O!  sad,  sad  indeed,  has  been  the 
fate  of  the  poor  soldier !  Many  silent  curses  have  rent 
the  air,  and  more  will  yet,  should  life  hold  out  its  glim 
mering  light.  Many  a  father  and  mother  have  been 
deprived  of  a  son  who  might  have  lived  had  they  the 
proper  care  taken  of  them,  and  by  those  fathers  and  mo 
thers  could  they  have  obtained  double  pay  for  all  expense 
and  trouble.  But  "who  cares?"  When  sick  they  are 
of  no  more  use  to  the  army.  "  God  bless  'em,  let  'em 
die."  But  thank  th"e  good  God !  they  are  marked — their 
characters  are  written  in  heaven !  They  are  loathed  and 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  31 

miserable  on  this  earth !  and  I  leave  the  Devil  to  take 
care  of  them  in  the  next. 

I  will  now  digress,  and  ask  my  friends  to  wait  'till  I 
get  aboard  ship — in  the  mean  time,  I  will  introduce  a 
few  remarks  which  may  not  be  out  of  place  or  uninterest 
ing,  on  the  brave  and  much  lamented  Lieut.  Col.  Charles 
Baxter. 

DRILLING    OFFICERS    AT    THE    FORT. 

It  was  much  to  be  regretted  that  we  had  so  little  dril 
ling  at  Fort  Hamilton,  previous  to  our  departure  for 
Mexico,  for  most  of  the  officers  required  it  as  well  as  the 
men  ;  instead  of  drinking,  carousing,  and  visiting  New- 
York  for  the  purpose  of  show,  &c.,  it  would  have  been  of 
much  more  service  and  honor  to  the  regiment,  to  have 
drilled  first  the  officers,  then  they  could  obtain  some 
knowledge,  in  order  to  drill  and  instruct  the  privates. 
There  were  a  few  officers  who  did  not  entirely  neglect 
their  duties,  and  who  appeared  to  have  taken  some  pride 
in  giving  instruction  to  the  raw  recruits.  .  Among  them, 
as  near  as  I  can  recollect,  were  Lieut.  Col.  Baxter,  Capt. 
Van  Olinda,  Lieut 's  Boyle,,  McCabe,  Sweeny,  Floyd, 
Sergeants  Carpenter,  Lombard,  Young,  Hart,  &c.,  who 
were  industrious  in  all  things,  until  they  almost  became 
disgusted  with  their  brother  officers,  for  inattention  or 
want  of  activity  and  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  regi 
ment.  Some  were,  perhaps,  excusable  on  account  of 
their  ignorance;  therefore,  out  of  charity,  I  will  not 
mention  their  names. 

A   FAINT    EULOGY    ON    LIEUT.    COL.    CHARLES    BAXTER. 

About  two  hundred  men  were  marched  to  New-York, 


32  THE    HIGH    PRIVATE. 

commanded  by  Col.  Baxter,  for  the  purpose  of  exhibiting 
ourselves,  &c. ;  and  we  learned  more  drilling  under 
"  Baxter"  in  three  days,  two  hours  at  a  time,  than  we 
learned  the  whole  six  weeks  we  were  at  Fort  Hamilton. 
Col.  Charles  Baxter  was  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier  in 
every  sense  of  the  word.  He  had  no  superior -in  drill — 
he  was  stern  and  commanding,  yet  mild  and  persuasive. 
Men  thought  it  a  favor  and  a  pleasure  to  be  under  his 
instruction.  The  drill,  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  New- 
York,  was  considered  "  extra,"  and  none  were  ordered 
"or  compelled  to  be  present;  yet  upwards  of  two  hundred 
volunteered,  on  hearing  that  Baxter  was  to  drill  them — 
and  it  has  been  said,  that  vetrans  never  marched  better 
than  we  did  on  the  occasion  of  our  visiting  the  city.  Col. 
Baxter  complimented,  and  appeared  proud  of  us,  as  well 
he  might,  for  we  felt  proud  of  him.  Often  times  have  I 
heard  the  men  say,  "  I  wish  Baxter  was  our  colonel,"  or 
"  at  Ihe  head  of  the  regiment."  The  men  loved  him,  and 
would  have  followed  or  gone  anywhere  he  commanded. 
And  often,  on  parade,  like  an  impatient  war-horse,  have 
I  seen  him  bite  his  lips  and  bend  his  sword,  with  inward 
excitement,  and  to  appearance,  disgust,  at  the  many 
errors  of  Col.  Burnett  and  subordinates. 

In  battle,  Col.  Baxter  was  calm,  bold,  and  daring, 
without  being  reckless — foreseeing,  and  cooly  observing 
every  obstacle,  looking  well  for  the  protection  of  his 
men  before  self. 

Oh !  had  we  but  him  for  our  first  colonel !  how  many 
of  the  New-York  Regiment  might  now  have  been  en 
joying  the  fire-sides  of  their  homes,  and  among  friends 
dear  to  them  as  the  greatest  lord  in  creation,  instead  of 


THE    HIGH    PRIVATE.  33 

their  bones  bleaching  on  the  battle  field  !  The  writer  of 
this  faint  praise,  had  no  personal  acquaintance  with  Col. 
Baxter,  nor  had  he  ever  ten  minutes  conversation  with 
him  in  military  affairs,  the  remarks  are  made  from  per 
sonal  observation  and  duty  to  a  brave,  chivalrous,  and 
high-minded  soldier  ! 

Peace  to  his  ashes  ! — Honor  to  the  men  who  composed 
the  Baxter  Blues  !  may  they  ever  retain  their  glorious 
name  for  ages  to  come  ! 

THE  DEATH  OF  COLONEL  BAXTER  AT  THE  BATTLE  OF 

CHAPULTEPEC 

"  'Twas  then  brave  Baxter  from  the  walls  surveyed, 
Wide  o'er  the  fields  the  hostile  bands  arrayed  : 
'  O,  heaven  !'  he  cried,  '  my  bleeding  country  save  ! 
Is  there  no  hand  on  high  to  shield  the  brave  1 
Yet,  though  destruction  sweep  these  lovely  plains — 
Rise  !  fellow-men  !— our  country  yet  remains ! 
By  that  dear  name,  we  wave  the  sword  on  high  ! 
And  swear  for  her  to  live  ! — with  her  to  die  !' 
He  said — and  on  the  rampart  height  arrayed 
His  trusty  warriors,  few,  but  undismayed  : 
In  vain,  alas !  in  vain  ye  gallant  few, 
From  rank  to  rank  your  volley  thundering  flew. 
Oh  !  bloodiest  picture  in  the  book  of  time  !" 


34  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Or  an  Extra  Chapter  by  the  way  of  an  Anchovy,  before  we  go  to  Sea. 
WHO  GOT  THAT  MONEY  ? 

There  has  been  considerable  excitement  and  difficulty 
in  ascertaining  what  has  become  of  the  money  appropri 
ated  by  the  City  Council,  and  by  citizens,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  New  York  Volunteers,  and  handed  over  to  Col. 
Ward  B.  Burnett ;  he  has  never  as  yet  given  any  satis 
faction  to  the  public.  A  few  who  have  a  right  to  know 
— a  friend  of  mine  gave  a  handsome  sum,  and  he  says 
he  is  informed  that  it  went  "  for  the  benefit  of  the  New 
York  Volunteers,  for  comforts,"  &c.  I  think  that  I  can 
enlighten  many  who  are  in  the  dark,  though  it  should 
happen  to  make  his  highness,  the  great  and  living  Colo 
nel,  a  little  riley :  not  being  under  the  tyrannical  power 
of  any  officer,  I  may  dare  to  speak,  and  I  intend  to 
speak  and  write  what  I  think,  and  what  a  few  richly 
deserve — that  it  may  hereafter  be  a  warning  to  treat 
men  like  men — not  like  common  slaves — and  that  there 
may  be  as  good  men  in  the  ranks  as  any  who  ever  wore 
a  gold  epaulet.  I  promised  men  on  their  dying  beds  "  I 
would  do  #,"  and  as  Gen.  Shields  says,  "  I  believe  my 
life  was  preserved  for  some  good  "  It  was  formerly  a 
frequent  remark  "  who  struck  Billy  Patterson  ?"  at  pre 
sent  its  "  who  got  that  money  ?"  I  can  tell  where  a 
sma//  part  of  it  went,  and  perhaps  Col.  Burnett  and  his 
officers  can  tell  what  became  of  the  larger  part  ? 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  35 

THE  "  CORPORAL  OF  THE  GUARD's"  STORY  ABOUT  THE  FIRST 
THOUSAND  DOLLARS. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  City  authorities  made  first 
an  appropriation  of  one  thousand  dollars,  to  aid  the  New 
York  Volunteers  in  recruiting  men,  &c.,  for  the  First 
Regiment,  Col.  Burnett,  for  Mexico ;  of  which  one  thou 
sand  dollars  each  Captain  received  fifty  dollars  for  "  poc 
ket  money,"  or  as  Col.  B.  expresses  it,  "  for  the  purposes 
of  defraying  expenses,"  such  as  rooms,  lights,  &c.,  (pre 
cious  little  of  it  ever  went  into  "  rooms"  except  what 
went  in  bottles,)  which  makes  five  hundred  of  the  appro 
priation.  The  other  five  hundred  wre  will  give  to  Col. 
Burnett  and  staff,  of  course  they  want  "  a  little  pocket 
money"  for  champaign,  suppers,  &c.  Calling  myself  a 
liberal  man  I  allow  these  items  cheerfully,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  defraying  necessary  expenses.  Well,  one  thou 
sand  dollars  are  honorably  accounted  for. 

DITTO  ABOUT  THE  FIVE  THOUSAND.         ' 

Now  for  the  five  thousand  dollars  appropriated  by  the 
City  Councils  "  to  aid  in  furnishing  clothing  and  com," 
forts  for  the  now-commissioned  officers  arid  privates." 
Mark  ye!  "For  the  '  non  com.V  arid  privates."  Be 
fore  I  get  through  I  will  tell  you  all  about  the  "  com 
forts,"  and  what  "  comforts"  the  soldiers  received  out  of 
the  five  thousand  dollars  fund.  Col.  Burnett  attempts  to 
give  an  account  of  the  disbursment  of  the  five  thousand, 
(without  any  vouchers,)  in  the  Courier  and  Enquirer  of 
about  January  tenth,  1847. 

I  am  sorry  that  I  am  unable  to  quote  his  statement  at 
present ;  but  I  distinctly  recollect  that  the  statement  was 


36  THE    HIGH    PRIVATE. 

blinded  and  untrue,  and  so  most  of  the  men  declared  at 
the  time,  and  with  the  utmost  disgust  at  his  deception  and 
treatment. 

Col.  B.'s  statement  in  the  Courier  and  Enquirer,  I 
think,  was  one  thousand  dollars  for  his  officers  to  pur 
chase  swords,  ornaments,  &c.,  for  the  dear  creatures, 
which,  by  the  by,  I  understand,  have  never  been  entirely 
paid  for — and  that  an  agent  was  sent  out  to  Vera  Cruz 
with  a  bill  for  these  very  identical  swords,  jewelry,  &c., 
which  the  great  financier  put  in  against  the  five  thou 
sand  dollar  appropriation,  for  the  "comforts"  of  the 
".  non  com.'s  and  privates."  Is  it  true,  or  is  it  not,  my 
dear  colonel  ?  If  I  am  wrong,  I  acknowledge  the  corn. 

"CLOTHING  AND  COMFORTS." 

Well,  gentlemen,  now  there  is  a  balance  of  five  thou 
sand  dollars  for  "  clothing  and  comforts"  for  the  poor 
soldier.  I  make  for  eight  hundred  men  for  clothing  at 
twenty-one  dollars  each,  one  thousand,  six  hundred  and 
eighty  dollars,  which  we  worked  for,  and  which  we  are 
entitled  to  by  law  from  "  Uncle  Sam,"  as  six  month's 
advanced  clothing.  Among  the  "  comforts,"  was  about 
(to  be  very  liberal,)  four  hundred  government  pegged, 
and  one  hundred  sewed  shoes,  amounting  to  about  six 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  received,  including  all 
the  "  comforts,"  (whiskey  always  except ed,  and  precious 
little  of  that,)  leaving  a  balance  of  one  thousand  six 
hundred  and  ninety-five  dollars  for  -extra  "  comforts," 
which  I  leave  with  the  colonel  to  explain  at  some  future 
period. 

One  thousand  dollars,  he  says,  he  paid  for  recruiting 


THE    HIGH    PRIVATE.  37 

services.  If  he  did,  there  are  many  bills  which  never 
have  been  paid ;  and  he  has  applied  at  some  of  the  okl 
rendezvous  for  their  bills — "  that  he  could  procure  the 
money  at  Washington."  At  one  rendezvous  I  called  at, 
they  refused  to  give  any  information,  saying,  that  they 
were  friends  of  Col.  Burnett.  This  plainly  showed  that 
there  was  something  "  rotten  in  Denmark  ;"  for3  if  they 
were  "  friends,"  and  all  things  "  O.  K.,"  they  would  most 
certainly  have  been  happy  and  willing  to  vindicate  Col. 
Burnett's  character,  when  I  charged  him  with  using  the 
soldier's  money  for  his  own  private  purposes. 

MORE    MONEY   UNACCOUNTED   FOR. 

Then  comes  more  money  from  private  subscription,  by 
the  citizens  of  New- York,  amounting  to  the  snug  little 
sum  of  eight  hundred  seventy-three  dollars  and  seventy- 
five  cents.  "  Who  got  that  money  ?"  The  deponent 
saith  not.  Probably,  it  went  the  same  road  that  all  the 
rest  of  the  funds  went — for  "  comforts." 

Now,  it  appears  that  the  whole  amount  received  fiom 
the  city  authorities  and  citizens,  amounts  to  the  grand 
total  of  six  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-three 
dollars  and  seventy-five  cents.  The  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  receiving  out  of  this  sum,  two  thou 
sand  three  hundred  and  five  dollars,  a  part  of  which  was 
due  from  government  for  the  "  sixth  month's  clothing," 
amounting  to  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty  dollars, 
leaving  for  "  comforts,"  six  hundred  and  twenty-five  dol 
lars,  which  is  every  cent  that  was  ever  received  by-trie 
<(  non  com.'s  and  privates."  Yet,  we  are  told  that  this 
money  was  given  for  their  benefit,  leaving  the  enormous 


38  THE    HIGH   PRIVATE. 

sum  of  six  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  dollars  and 
seventy-five  cents  in  the  hands  of  Col.  Ward  B.  Burnett, 
most  of  which  is  unaccounted  for  satisfactory  to  me,  or  a 
majority  of  the  regiment.  I  do  not  say  that  Col.  Burnett 
"  has  got  that  money" — but,  this  I  do  say,  that  the  non 
commissioned  officers  and  privates  have  not  got  it.  The 
Colonel  has,  or,  is  about  to  make  a  settlement  with  the 
War  Department,  in  which  all  his  claims  in  getting  the 
New-York  Regiment  have,  or  are  to  be  allowed,  exclu 
sive  of  the  sum  received  from  the  Corporation  and  pa 
triotic  citizens  of  New-York. 

This  paying  a  man  twice  for  getting  up  a  regiment  of 
soldiers,  and  cheat  the  men  "  into  the  bargain,"  is  what 
I  should  call  playing  a  pretty  strong  game — and  pocket 
ing  the  largest  part  at  that — is  doing  it  up  scientifically. 
However,  we  are  a  "  progressive  people,"  and  growing 
sm.arter,  if  not  more  honest  every  day.  Amen  ! — "  Com- 
mo  lo  passa  usted  '?" 

The  end  of  the  sixth  lesson. 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  39 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Leaving  Fort  Hamilton — Considerable  talk  about  it — Some  objection 
about  going  without  the  "  three  months  extra" — Prospect  of  a  Muss 
—The  plot  thickens— Danger— Ship  Catherine  and  bark  Isabella  rea 
dy  for  Companies  A,  C,  D,  E  and  G— Big  talk  about  not  leaving— 
Swearing,  cursing  and  using  profane  language  to  excess — Officers 
threaten  to  bring  "regulars"  from  Governor's  Island  to  quell  the 
"volunteer  spirit" — Great  danger  in  case  they  did— More  coaxing 
and  promises — Officers  smelling  the  "  non  com.'s"  breath — Jugs  of 
rum — Highway  robbery  aboard  steamboat — "All  aboard  don't  go'?" — 
To  conclude  with  the  conclusion  at  Fort  Hamilton,  and  a  great  va 
riety  useless  to  mention  here. 

LEAVING  FORT  HAMILTON. 

Five  companies,  A,  C,  D,  E  and  G,  having  been  noti 
fied  to  leave  Fort  Hamilton  in  double-quick  time,  in  order 
to  fill  up  the  holes  on  board  the  ship  Catherine  and  bark 
Isabella,  then  and  there  lying  off  the  above  said  Fort,  in 
the  Bay  of  New-York,  bound  for  Mexico ! 

The  men,  somewhat  taken  by  surprise,  knew  no  bounds 
to  their  exclamations  and  threats ;  but  they  were  doomed 
to  be  cheated,  wheedled,  and  coaxed,  and  "  promises"  of 
pay  when  aboard  ship ;  they  doggedly  marched — no  ! 
walked  on  board  of  a  small  steamer,  to  transport  us  to 
the  vessels  which  lay  off  at  anchor.  .  Some  tried  to  es 
cape,  but  were  "  caught  in  the  act"  and  drove  on  board 
the  steamer  at  the  sword's  point,  it  being  the  first  brave 
action  I  noticed,  previous  to  leaving  the  fort,  which  gave 
a  peculiar  sensation  to  the  "  Corporal  of  the  Guard" — a 
kind  of  terror  of  which  was  to  come,  and  which  did 


40  THE    HIGH   PRIVATE. 

come — and  he  has  never  got  over  his  "  peculiar  sensation" 
yet.  All  safe  on  board,  the  first  work  to  be  done,  \vas,  to 
seek  plunder,  which  the  soldiers  soon  found,  evidently,  to 
their  joy,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  on  board,  except 
the  agents,  proprietors,  and  dealers  in  the  rum  line.  A 
sort  of  bar,  with  a  few  jugs  of  whisky  in  it  was  scented 
out — though  locked  up  from  the  "  kidnappers" — the 
men  soon  found  their  way  into  the  bar  and  among  the 
decanters  and  jugs,  and  the  way  they  run  was  a  caution  to 
"  Santer  Ranner"  at  Cerro  Gordo  !  The  would-be-smart- 
officers  attempted  to  catch  the  b-hoys,  but  they  could'nt 
come  it.  They  even  went  to  the  self-degradation  to 
smell  the  "  non  com.'s"  breath,  whether  for  the  purpose 
of  detection,  or  to  get  a  suck  at  the  bung-hole,  is  left  for 
them  to  decide. 

The  officers  seemed  to  think  that,  every  time  a  private 
blew  his  nose,  the  "  non  com.'s"  must  report  i\\efact  to 
their  dignities,  as  if  they  were  to  be  made  the  stool- 
pigeons  of  every  loafing  officer,  who  wishes  to  find  fault 
with  every  trifling  thing  which  may  occur- — "  too  green 
by  half." 

After  "kidnapping"  the  five  companies  and  getting 
them  safe  and  sound  on  board  the  ship,  they  supposed  all 
was  as  it  should  be;  but,  to  my  mind,  things  looked 
rather  doubtful  about  their  stopping  upon  the  ship  Cath 
erine,  at  least,  for  the  men  were  in  a  complete  state  of 
mutiny — with  prospects  of  a  "  muss" — so  much  so,  that 
no  officer  dare  go  between  decks — all  that  was  wanting 
was  a  "  leader,"  a  resolute  man  to  "  go  ahead."  The 


THE    HIGH   PRIVATE.  41 

men  were  ready  and  willing  to  assist  in  returning  the 
ship  to  the  dock  from  whence  she  came,  or  to  some  place 
of  safety  in  the  New-York  harbor — passing  Fort  Hamil 
ton  with  flying  colors,  and  cheers  to  the  poor  devils  left 
behind. 

It  was  even  suggested  to  throw  the  officers  over-board, 
unless  they  conducted  themselves  with  a  little  more  pro 
priety.  Such  hooting,  hissing,  and  hallooing,  I  never 
heard  before — imrnitations  of  wild  beasts  and  domestic 
animals — cursing  the  officers,  fighting  and  screaming,  as 
if  all  bedlam  had  been  let  loose  !  No  wonder  the  officers 
had,  for  the  first  time,  felt  a  little  fright  !  The  hatches 
were  fastened  down  for  the  night,  and  none  allowed  to  go 
on  deck,— a  horrible  night  to  me,  and  one  which  I  shall 
never  forget.  I  felt  satisfied  with  the  war,  and  would 
have  been  willing  to  quit  the  "  first  boat,"  could  I  have 
gotten  an  opportunity.  I  was  robbed  of  knife,  comb, 
pencil,  &c.,  &c.,  and  threatened  to  be,  (it  matters  not 
what,)  unless  I  kept  my  "jaws  shut  up." 

SUTLERS  GREAT  PICKPOCKETS COPERAL  OF  THE  GUARD,  &C. 

Morning  came,  and  with  it  came  sour  faces,  black 
eyes,  and  bloody  bosoms, — hard  looks,  and  revengeful 
countenances — but,  all  was  calm,  as  after  a  severe  storm. 
Some  were  occupied  in  washing  their  faces,  others  talk 
ing  in  groups,  while  many  stood  moody  and  alone — some 
looking  with  a  wishful  eye  towards  the  shore,  and  some 
sat  in  different  parts  of  the  deck  engaged  at  the  beautiful 
occupation  of  picking  lice  from  their  persons!  Many  a 

4* 


42  THE    HIGH    PRIVATE. 

poor  body -companion  was  sent,  into  the  mighty  deep  that 
morning,  never  to  rise  again  "  into  this  breathing  world," 
full  of  milk,  honey,  and  trouble.  Thus,  we  were  situated 
the  second  day,  (January  4th,  1847.)  on  board  the  ship 
Catharine,  Capt.  Herbert,  with  companies  C,  D,  arid  E ; 
Capt.  Barclay,  Capt.  Taylor,  and  Capt.  Pierson,  the  for 
mer  and  latter  died  in  Mexico.  Major  Burnham,  with 
Adg  't  Forrey,  were  in  command  of  the  battalion, — and, 
together  were  two  or  three  of  those  leeches,  called  sutlers ; 
greater  pickpockets  never  existed  than  these  sutlers, 
generally.  The  poor  soldier  is  actually  robbed  of  one 
half  of  his  pay  by  these  leeches,  who  charge  about  five 
hundred  per  cent  for  everything  they  sell.  For  instance, 
one  dollar  a  pound  for  tobacco,  worth  fifteen  or  twenty 
cents,  and  other  things  in  proportion.  I  paid  one  dollar 
and  fifty  cents  for  a  bottle  of  claret  wine,  wrorth  twenty 
cents.  It  has  been  said  that  the  Colonel  was  interested 
with  the  sutlers — if  so,  he  indirectly  robbed  the  soldier, 
and  it  seems,  in  more  ways  than  one,  which  I  shall  at- 
temp  to  prove  before  I  get  through  with  my  history. 

The  "  Corporal  of  the  Guard"  had  the  distinguished 
honor  of  being  one  of  the  party  on  board  of  the  ship 
Catharine ;  he  was  one  among  them  who  naturally  felt 
dissatisfied,  and  with  some  very  good  reasons,  though  not 
in- the  "  plot."  He  knew  very  well  what  was  going  on, 
and,  of  course,  remained  neutral.  One  thing  was  certain, 
the  "  Corporal"  was  determined  not  to  blow. 

I  was  promised,  most  solemnly,  (after  assisting  in  get 
ting  the  men  on  board  of  the  ship,)  the  privilege  of  visit- 


THE    HIGH   PRIVATE.  43 

ing  New -York,  which  I  never  enjoyed  while  at  the  Fort, 
but  attended  to  my  duties  faithfully— besides  acting  Com 
missary,  Corpora],  Sergeant,  Captain's  Clerk,  and  Cap 
tain  in  command,  and  marched  the  company  on  parade 
more  than  all  the  officers  together — after  halving  been  so 
industrious,  I  thought  certainly  I  was  entitled  to  twenty- 
four  hours  in  New. York,  to  bid  my  family  and  friends 
farewell,  and  to  get  my  clothing  which  was  left  behind, 
to  the  amount  of  fifty  dollars,  all  of  which  have  been  lost. 
Thus,  I  was  disappointed  and  most  rascally  cheated:  I 
took  the  officers  to  be  gentlemen  and  men  of  honor,  yet, 
"  honor"  was  the  last  thing  that  ever  entered  their  thick 
skulls. 

When  I  found  that  I  was  so  deceived  and  kidnapped, 
I  felt  disheartened  and  discouraged,  and  never  afterwards 
could  do  duty  with  pleasure.  And  I  have  often  times 
since  baulked  them  in  drill,  when  they  supposed  that  I 
was  ignorant,  though  I  had  previously  commanded  a 
company,  yet  I  have  forgotten  more  than  one  half  of 
them  ever  knew,  or  ever  will  know  ! 

SWORN   ENEMY    TO    TYRANTS OFFICERS   GOT   SOAKED. 

The  treatment  given  me,  proved  in  part,  the  loss  of  a 
dear  wife,  leaving  three  unprotected  children!  And  I 
am  not  the  only  one  that  has  suffered  by  their  dishonesty 
and  inhuman  conduct.  They  may  laugh  in  derision — 
but  they  know  what  I  write  is  too  true — and  they  were 
in  hopes  that  I  would  never  return  to  expose  them  to  the 
world.  I  have  sworn  to  expose  every  tyrant,  and  I  am 


44  THE    HIGH   PRIVATE. 

bound  to  do  it  by  the  dying ,  breath  of  ray  comrades, 
though  it  cost  me  my  life ! 

I  am  a  sworn  enemy  to  tyrany  in  every  shape  and  con 
dition,  rich  or  poor,  high  or  low!  The  only  reason  that 
I  did  not  before  give  them  a  dose  of  ipicac,  was,  I  did  not 
wish  to  take  advantage  of  any  one  during  absence  from 
home,  and  especially  in  an  enemy's  country. 

I  am  one  of  those  men  who  can  "  forget  and  forgive ;" 
and,  like  an  Indian,  can  recollect  an  injury  or  a  kindness. 
Men  who  have  power  should  reflect  that  they  themselves 
may  be  under  power,  and  to  treat  their  fellow  brothers, 
with  at  least,  common  respect.  I  hate  the  false  and 
foolish  tyrany  one  man,  when  in  power,  uses  over  an 
other — taking  advantage  of  his  circumstances,  and  by 
those  very  persons  who  profess  to  be  his  best  friends,  are 
often  proved  to  be  his  worst  enemies ! 

The  greatest  professional  democrat  is  oftentimes  the 
greatest  aristocrat. 


THE    HIGH   PRIVATE.  45 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Fish  and  Fowl — Rev.  Mr.  Gallagher — Bibles  thrown  away — Christain 
friends — Prayers  and  promises. 

OFFICERS    ((  SOAKED." 

It  appears  after  the  first  five  companies  had  left,  the 
remaining  five,  B,  F,  H,  I,  and  K,  either  more  brave  or 
more  resolute,  or,  that  the  Colonel  thought  it  more  pru 
dent  to  advance  them  a  small  sum — thus  making  fish  out 
of  one  part  and  flesh  out  of  the  other  ; — we  heard  of  it, 
and  well  recollect  the  indignation  felt  at  the  time. 

The  men  continued  to  show  dissatisfaction,  so  much  so, 
that,  for  the  safety  of  the  ship  or  the  men,  the  Captain 
"  hove"  anchor  and  put  down  the  bay,  while  most  of  our 
officers  went  to  New-York,  for  purposes  best  known  to 
themselves.  When  they  returned  to  the  ship,  they  ap 
peared  to  have  been  wet  inside — nearing  the  vessel,  their 
boat  capsized  and  wet  the  dear  creatures  outside — so, 
taking  it  altogether,  they  were,  what  is  called,  pretty 
well  soaked.  However,  we  got  them  safe  on  board  more 
sober  than  when  they  left  New-York. 

One -or  two  days  previous  to  sailing,  orders  were  given 
to  rig  ourselves  in  our  best  toggery,  that  Gen.  Gaines  was 
expected  to  pay  us  a  visit,  &c.  But,  who  should  come 
but  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gallagher,  with  a  lot  of  bibles  and  tracts, 
—though  all  very  good  in  their  way,  and  at  a  proper 


46  THE    HIGH   PRIVATE. 

time, — but  you  might  as  well  "  throw  physic  to  the  dogs," 
as  to  give  a  bible  to  a  soldier  going  to  war.  I  never 
saw  but  one  man  read  them,  and  he  was  crazy ; — men 
only  abuse  and  commit  sacrilege  at  such  times — for  I 
pledge  my  honor,  many  were  thrown  over-board — others 
used  for  waste  paper — the  ballance  were  left  upon  the 
sand-hills  of  Vera  Cruz,  as  it  was  impossible  to  carry 
them  on  a  tramp,  besides  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of 
clothing  that  were  thrown  away.  If,  instead  of  bibles 
and  tracts,  the  good  people  who  so  much  desired  the  wel 
fare  of  the  men's  souls,  should  have  sent  something  for 
their  bodies,  many  a  life  might  have  been  saved,  and,  per 
haps,  many  a  widow  and  orphan  would  now  have  prayed 
and  blessed  them.  Substantial  and  nourishment  was 
that  which  was  most  wanting,  and  for  which  the  soldiers 
most  suffered.  Three  cents  worth  of  nourishment  might 
have  saved  a  life! — or,  the  cost  of  a  bible,  laid  out  for 
the  same  purpose,  would,  perhaps,  have  saved  many 
lives ! 

Learning  there  had  been  a  mutiny  on  board,  it  is  sup 
posed  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gallagher  was  sent  down  the 
bay  to  allay  and  endeavor  to  soothe  the  excitement,  as 
he  had  been  once  a  soldier  himself.  If  he  ever  had  been 
a  soldier,  he  must  certainly  have  known  that  prayers 
could  not  heal  the  sick,  nor  give  them  their  "  three 
month's  extra  pay,"  which  they  stood  so  much  in  need 
of  for  their  distressed  families.  I  like  to  hear  prayers  and 
speeches,  and  to  see  promises  carried  into  practice.  I 
suggested  to  the  Reverand  gentleman,  after  he  had  got 


THE    HIGH   PRIVATE.  47 

through  with  his  gratuitous  advice  and  prayer,  the  neces 
sity  of  endeavoring  to  assist  the  soldier's  family  during 
their  absence,  which,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  many 
were  suffering,  and  which  was  the  cause  of  the  "  mutiny" 
on  board  of  the  ship.  He  asked  me  to  procure  the  names 
and  residences  of  all  those  who  had  families,  which  I  did, 
and  he  promised  his  word  to  see  them  protected  !  They 
were  protected,  ((  as  vultures  protect  the  lamb — covering 
and  devouring  them !" 

Since  my  return,  I  have  enquired  of  several  individuals 
knowing  the  destitute  condition  of  many  families  which 
were  left  uncared  for,  and  I  cannot  find  any  among  them 
that  were  assisted  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Gallagher  or  his 
Christian  f i  iends  !  I  do  not  wish  to  ridicule  "  religion," 
for  I  am  fond  of  it, — but,  I  want  that  which  is  pure, 
honest,  and  undefded, — no  hypocrisy  or  false  pretensions, 
— no  mockery  or  mealy-mouthed  prayers  !  ,/,;, 

Well,  the  Reverend  "  soldier"  and  his  party  left  us 
nearly  in  the  same  condition  as  when  they  found  us,  ex 
cept  a  few  who  felt,  by  the  Reverend's  "  promises,"  that 
their  families  would  not  suffer  from  the  cold  hand  of 
charity  and  want.  Under  this  vain  illusion,  they  en 
deavored  to  keep  up  a  cheerful  heart,  and  to  prepare 
themselves  for  the  field  of  battle!  Amen ! — God  be  with 
you! 

January  9th,  1847,  all  sail  was  set,  and  ho !  for  Mex 
ico!  though  many  with  disheartened  spirits,  by  the  false 
representations  given  by  their  officers. 


48  THE    HIGH    PRIVATE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  On  the  sea,  the  open  sea!" — Rum  !  rum  ! — Ship  on  fire—  Vermine — 
Pork!  pork! — Whiskey-headed  officers — Gambling,  and  Doings  on 
board  the  ship. 

ALL    SORTS    OF    THINGS. 

The  men,  to  say  the  least,  felt  as  if  they  were  deceived, 
kidnapped,  and  drove  on  board  like  so  many  slaves! 
Their  dampened  spirits  and  down-cast  countenances  told 
too  plainly,  that  this  was  the  fact ;  but  they  had  to  put 
up  with  it,  and  bear  their  situation  like  soldiers  and  men. 

The  wind  blew,  the  waves  run,  and  the  ship  sailed,  and 
we,  poor  devils,  went  along  at  the  same  rate.  Nothing 
particular  occurred,  except  a  plenty  of  sea-sickness,  by 
which  we  saved  considerable  pork  !  The  officers  began 
to  feel  a  little  more  safe — drank  brandy  and  sang  songs, 
until  the  Captain  of  the  ship  literally  kicked  them  out  of 
the  cabin, — ("  for  particulars,  see  small  bills.")  The 
men,  about  these  times,  began  to  feel  dry — and  by  dig- 
ing  in  the  lower  story,  among  the  sutlers  "  goods  and 
chattels,"  they  found  some  fine  brandy,  (on  the  free  soil 
plan,)  and  the  party  went  in  for  free  brandy,  at  any  rate. 
It  was  some  time  before  the  sap-headed  officers  could  as 
certain  where  the  men  got  their  potations.  They  thought 
that  the  men  had  no  business  to  drink  from  the  bowl  of 
Bacchus — that  it  was  bad  for  their  health,  and  not  good 


THE    HIGH   PEIVATE.  49 

for  their  souls — if  any  drinking  was  to  be  done,  the  offi 
cers  could  do  it  without  the  assistance  of  the  private ! 

Oh  !  rum  !  rum ! — what  destruction  and  devastation  it 
makes !  and  we  came  very  near  Reeling  the  effects  of  it. 
On  one  of  the  visits  to  the  lower  story,  or  "  between 
decks,"  a  soldier  got  drunk  over  the  bung-hole,  and  left 
the  candle  burning  near  by,  which,  had  it  not  been  dis 
covered  in  time,  would  have  set  the  ship  on  fire,  it 
being  at  a  late  hour  at  night,  and  no  vessel  or  land  in 
sight,  every  soul  on  board  must  have  perished !  But 
writh  great  presence  of  mind,  our  officers  put  a  veto  on 
such  conduct  for  the  future  !  To  tap  their  "  whiskey," 
and  the  soldiers  to  be  drunk,  was  not  to  be  tolerated  in  a 
civilized  community, — (any  one  seeing  the  live  creatures 
running  about  deck  or  crawling  up  the  rigging,  would  not 
be  likely  to  think  of  much  civilization !) — However,  we 
"ploughed  the  ocean,"  eating  pork, — pork!  until  you 
would  almost  realize  that  you  could  hear  the  grunting  of 
hogs. 

When  about  fifteen  days  out,  (at  midnight,)  the  horri 
ble  cry  of  "fire"  was  raised, — "the  ship  on  fire!" — I 
had  been  up  the  fore  part  of  the  night  upon  duty,  as 
"  Sergeant  of  the  Guard,"  (now  Corporel,)  and  had  left 
all  "  safe  and  sound,"  when  I  retired  to  my  lousy  hole. 
In  ten  or  twenty  minutes  afterwards,  the  "  between 
decks,"  with  about  three  hundred  souls  were  in  sufri- 
cating  smoke,  occasioned  by  a  candle  placed  upon  a 
piece  of  scantling,  filled  with  war  implements.  I  rushed 
to  the  spot  where  the  fire  appeared  to  be,  and  smothered 

5 


50  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

it  with  a  blanket,  which  soon  put  all  things  right  again, 
except  the  smoke  and  fright  of  the  whisky-headed  offi 
cers  !  They  never  closed  their  eyes  that  night.  One 
officer,  to  make  sure  of  his  safety,  got  into  the  yawl-boat 
during  the  alarm.  After  the  fire  and  fright  being  over, 
we  passed  along  the  "  briny  deep"  very  comfortably,  con 
sidering  all  things,  (except  a  fight  now  and  then  among 
the  Dutch  and  Irish,  to  keep  up  their  spirits,)  though, 
the  men  had  many  ways  of  amusing  themselves  :  such  as 
tricks,  gambling,  &c.  Not  having  their  "  three  month's 
extra  pay,"  the  soldiers  would  cut  up  tobacco  into  small 
bits  and  play  with  cards  for  them, — others  were  occupied 
in  washing,  cooking,  talking,  singing,  or  relating  some 
amusing  story,  &c. 

A  STORY  ABOUT  VERMIN THREE  THOUSAND  DROWNED  IN 

ONE  DAY! 

The  body-animals  began  to  increase  so  fast  that  they 
would  occasionally  pay  a  visit  to  the  cabin.  The  officers 
not  liking  such  intrusions,  put  a  guard  over  the  door  of 
the  cabin,  with  strict  orders  to  let  no  one  pass,  unless  a 
pretty  decent  "  non  com."  However,  the  animals,  hav 
ing  no  respect  of  persons,  would  walk  or  creep  leisurely 
in,  to  the  great  detriment  of  their  poor  bodies  and  "  com 
forts."  Exhausting  all  patience,  they  called  a  council  of 
war,  when  it  was  determined  to  form  the  men  into  squads, 
which  was  to  be  called  the  "Lice-picking  Squad"  and 
each  sergeant  should  command  a  squad,  subdivided  for 
'  each  Corporal.  I  had  the  extreme  honor  to  command  a 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  51 

squad  of  the  above  name.  Each  company  of  squads  hav 
ing  appointed  hours  for  the  performance  of  duty,  it  was 
the  most  interesting  and  ludricous  scene  ever  witnessed 
by  mortal  eye.  "  Oh  !  what  a  falling  off  was  there  !" 
Allowing  ten  "  animals"  to  each  man,  which  is  a  small 
estimate,  you  have  three  thousand  vermin  (or  "animals" 
a  more  genteel  way  of  using  the  term,)  which  were 
thrown  into  the  sea  in  one  day  1 — "  and  the  things  were 
drowned  !"  Some  of  the  squad  would  throw  their  shirts 
over-board,  as  the  shortest  cut  to  get  rid  of  them. 

Now,  good  reader,  these  are  facts,  and  "  nothing  ex 
tenuated  or  set  down  aught  in  malice"  and  all  owing  to 
the  negligence  of  the  officers,  for  not  having  the  men 
cleansed  before  putting  on  clean  garments. 

THE    MONKEY    LIEUTENANT. 

One  night,  when  I  was  "  Sergeant  of  the  Guard,"  it 
being  very  hot  between  decks,  many  of  the  men  cljose  to 
sleep  on  deck  or  in  the  "  fore-top."  But,  our  Lieutenant 
"  Officer  of  the  Guard"  ordered,  and  endeavored  to  drive 
them  all  below;  many  run  up  the  rigging,  and  I  was 
ordered  by  the  valiant  sap-head,  to  go  up  and  drive 
them  down  by  the  point  of  the  sword.  Judging  the 
order  a  foolish  one,  I  most  respectfully  declined,  re 
marking  at  the  same  time  that,  "  I  was  no  sailor." 
"  Well,"  says  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Guard,  "  if  you  are 
afraid  to  go  up,  I'll  go  damn  quick!"  So,  up  he  goes, 
looking  more  like  a  monkey  than  anything  that  I  can 
compare  him  to.  While  he  was  going  up  on  one  side, 


52  THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 

the  men  would  come  down  on  the  other,  and,  vice-versa, 
to  the  no  small  amusement  of  the  sailors,  who,  afterwards, 
dMed  the  officer  the  "  Monkey  Lieutenant."  He  was 
ridiculed  by  the  men,  and  laughed  at  by  the  officers,  and 
I  believe  it  was  his  first  and  last  appearance  up  a  mast. 
"  For  the  sake  of  his  friends  and  family,  I  will  forbear 
mentioning  his  name." 

Our  Doctor,  or  Surgeon,  as  he  is  called  in  the  army, 
performed  his  part  to  the  best  of  his  abilities,  as  we  had 
no  medicines,  excepting  castor  oil  and  salts,  which  he 
dealt  largely  in.  In  the  morning,  the  drummer  would 
beat  the  u  Doctor's  call,"  when  all  those  who  were  sick 
and  wished  to  be  excused  from  duty,  appeared  in  a  line. 
"  Well,"  says  the  Surgeon,  "  what  is  the  matter  with 
you  ?"  "  I  feel  bad,  Sir,  all  over"  replies  the  patient. 
"  Put  him  down  a  dose  of  salts,"  says  the  Doctor  to  his 
assistant  or  steward,  and  so  on,  until  one  gets  salts;  the 
next,  fior  variety,  though  for  the  same  complaint,  gets 
castor  oil.  The  next  morning  the  dose  is  changed  if  the 
patient  gets  no  better ;  and,  instead  of  salts,  gives  him 
oil;  and  the  man  that  took  the  oil  must  try  the  salts! 
«  Great  country,  this !" 

"  All's  well  that  ends  well." 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE.  53 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  pirate  in  sight— Great  consternation  on  board  of  the  ship — Water 
spout — Danger  of  the  same — In  sight  of  Mexico — Boarded  by  Navy 
Officers — Arrived  at  Tampico^Offieers  go  on*  shore — Ship  going 
ashore. 

BANCROFT  U6(tA*V 
OUR    CAPTAIN    ALARMED. 

When  within  a  few  days'  sail  of  the  Brazos,  we  espied 
a  "  low,  long,  black  schooner"  bearing  hard  down  upon 
us,  and  our  ship's  Captain  appeared  greatly  alarmed,  and 
walked  up  and  down  his  quarter  deck  very  impatient. 
Soon  afterwards  he  raised  the  French  colors,  but  none 
could  find  out  the  reason  for  his  doing  so,  and  all  was 
alarm  and  consternation.  Some  of  the  sailors  said  it  was 
nothing  but  a  "  fruit  vessel,"  bound  to  New  Orleans, 
while  others  thought  different,  and  were  sure  that  it  was 
a  pirate  or  a  Mexican  Privateer.  However,  as  soon  as 
the  French  colors  were  hoisted,  the  strange  vessel  imme 
diately  changed  her  course,  and  was  toon  out  of  sight. 
"  Very  much  like  a  whale" — at  any  rate,  according  to 
my  idea,  why  did  our  Captain  hoist  French  colors  instead 
of  American,  unless  to  avoid  the  craft? — "  that's  the 
question,"  as  Hamlet  says.  We  should  have  been  in  a 
pretty  "  muss,"  if  she  had  fired  her  "  Long  Tom"  into 
three  hundred  brave  soldiers  who  could'ht  return  the 
compliment !  We  had  no  large  guns,  and  muskets 
would  have  been  of  no  use,  unless  the  pirate  had  boarded 
us,  then,  of  course,  we  should  have  given  them  fits  ! 


54 


THE  HIGH  PRIVATE. 


WATER-SPOUT DANGER  OF  THE  SAME. 

The  next  day,  after  our  encounter  with  the  privateer, 
we  came  in  sight  of  a  water-spout — the  most  awfully  and 
splendid  sight  I  ever  beheld  at  sea !  It  would  be  impos 
sible  for  me  to  describe  it ;  to  all  appearance,  it  was 
coming  directly  amid-ships — if  it  had  done  so,  the  power 
of  the  troubled  water  would,  no  doubt,  have  twisted  the 
main-mast  out  of  its  situation  in  less  time  than  I  am 
writing  about  it — and,  perhaps,  left  us  a  perfect  wreck — 
besides,  destroying  many  valuable  lives,  and  the  "  Corporal 
of  the  Guard"  among  the  rest ! 

Not  being  able  to  give  a  description  of  it,  I  will  drop 
the  subject,  and  shall  be  glad  to  get  rid  of  it  so  cheap, — 
but  this  much  I  can  say,  it  was  afeet  high! 

January  28th,  (it  being  the  birth  day  anniversary  of 
the  "  Corporal,")  we  arrived  off  the  Brazos,  after  a  pas 
sage  of  nineteen  days  from  our  beloved  country.  We 
were  boarded  by  the  American  Navy  Officers,  and  report 
ed  ourselves  to  the  commanding  General,  when  we  were 
ordered  to  lay  offTampico  for  further  orders.  We  sailed 
accordingly  on  the  following  day,  arriving  off  Tampico 
on  the  31st  inst— « spoke"  the  United  States  Sloop  of 
War  Albany,  who  laid  along  side  of  us  all  night,  and 
giving  our  Captain  instructions,  &c.,  in  regard  to  the 
storms  so  dangerous  and  severe  on  the  coast  of  the  Mexi 
can  Gulf. 

February  1st,  we  lay  off  Tampico  and  came  to  anchor. 
During  the  day,  a  small  Government  Steamer  came  out 
to  visit  us,  when  many  of  our  officers,  taking  the  advan 
tage,  went  on  shore.  The  "  non  com.'s"  and  privates 


THE    HIGH    PRIVATE.  55 

were  forbid  leaving  the  ship,  though  I  had  a  brother-in- 
law  in  the  Baltimore  Battalion,  with  news  from  his 
mother  and  sisters,  and  I  was  denied  the  privilege  of  going 
on  shore  a  few  moments  to  see  him.  In  fact,  I  always 
was,  while  in  the  army,  kept  more  like  a  slave  than  like 
a  freeman,  or  treated  with  the  rights  or  honor  of  a  non 
commissioned  officer ! — The  only  excuse  I  can  form  for 
their  unmanly  treatment  is,  great  stupidity  and  ignorance 
of  human  nature  and  duty. 

THE    SHIP    IN   DANGER    OF   BEING   LOST. 

A  large  quantity  of  dried  beef  was  sent  on  board  for 
each  company,  which  we  soon  devoured.  Water  and 
wood  were  also  brought  to  us,  and  it  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  the  soldiers  would  assist  the  sailors  to  re 
ceive  it  on  board,  as  they  frequently  insulted  the  soldiers 
by  throwing  buckets  of  water  upon  them,  and  then  sing 
"  get  out  of  de  way,"  when  they  were  washing  the  decks. 
As  bad  as  the  sailors  thought  of  the  soldiers,  they  found 
them  to  be  very  useful,  in  cases  of  an  emergency.  At 
one  time,  the  ship  would  have  been  lost  had  it  not  have 
been  for  the  assistance  of  the  soldiers.  A  "  norther" 
came  on  at  night,  arid  the  vessel  dragged  both  her  anchors 
and  would  have  gone  ashore,  had  not  all  hands  on  board 
lent  a  hand.  The  ship's  Captain  begged  of  the  soldiers 
to  assist  the  sailors  in  raising  the  anchors,  and  help  them 
to  put  to  sea,  or  all  on  board  would  perish  ! 

It  was  a  dreadful  night,  and  the  storm  was  tremendous  ! 
Many  vessels  wTere  lost  in  the  same  gale,  and  among 
them  was  the  ship  Ondiaka,  with  United  States'  troops, 
which  ran  ashore  about  twenty  miles  below  Tampico. 


56  THE    HIGH    PRIVATE. 

The  men  were  saved  from  the  wreck,  but  they  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Mexicans.  Our  ship  put  out  to  sea,  and 
a  wet  time  we  had  of  it — everything  which  was  in  any 
way  loose,  was  washed  overboard, — and,  below  deck,  the 
pork  barrels  and  wood  got  adrift,  bunks  broke  down,  and 
such  crashing,  rolling,  and  tumbling  about,  &c.,  we 
began  to  think  that  the  world  was  coming  to  an  end. 
Aye!  the  "  Corporal  of  the  Guard,"  began  to  tremble  in 
his  shoes,  he  being  at  the  time  on  duty  as  "  Sergeant  of 
the  Guard,"  was  compelled  to  remain  on  deck — God 
only  knows  for  what  purpose — for  the  officers  could  give 
no  reasonable  excuse. 

THE  GUARD  WASHED  AND  ROLLED  ABOUT. 

The  Guard  were  completely  drenched  by  the  waves 
rushing  over  the  decks,  and  over  our  carcases.  I  was, 
for  one,  wet  to  the  skin — washed  about,  kicked  about, 
rolled  about,  and  came  very  near  rolling  into  the  accursed 
"  Mexican  Sea."  I  finally  got  hold  of  a  sailor's  pea- 
jacket  tail  and  hung  on,  until  he  dragged  me  to  the  wind 
ward,  where  I  wound  a  piece  of  rope  around  my  body, 
boldly  singing  out,  "  change  the  Guard  !"  But  no  Guard 
or  sentinels  could  /  see.  Thinks  I,  let  the  ship  go !  I 
can  go  as  fast  as  she  can, — and  over  came  another  thou 
sand  bushels  of  salt  water, — Oh,  heavens !  they  intend  to 
drown  me  alive  ! — Where  shall  I  go  ? — What  shall  I 
do  ?  I  made  a  rush  towards  the  cabin  door  to  see  if  the 
"  Officer  of  the  Guard"  was  alive  or  drunk,  for  he  had 
not  shown  his  delicate  face  for  a  long  time.  In  I  went, 
the  first  sea,  "  heels  over-head,"  among  brandy  bottles, 
sick  officers,  broken  crockery,  &c.5  &c.  I  begged  for  a 


THE    HIGH   PRIVATE.  57 

spoonful  of  brandy,  but  they  said  it  was  all  gone,  or  that 
I  had  no  business  to  have  any  liquor  while  "  on  Guard." 
I  would  like  to  have  some  one,  just  at  that  present  time, 
told  me  where  the  "  Guard"  was! 

"  LOUD    SWELLED    THE    TEMPEST  !" 

The  wind  still  blew  a  perfect  hurricane — but,  the  Cap 
tain  could'nt  stop  it, — he  raved  and  swore,  though,  being 
"  a  respectable  church  member"  in  one  of  the  New-York 
churches,  he  ordered  the  ship  to  stand  still, — but  it 
would'nt  mind ;  it  had  no  more  feeling  for  us  than  a 
Guerilla,  and  it  cut  up  more  capers  and  turned  more  sum 
mersets  than  a  circus-rider  or  a  vaulting  machine.  For 
nearly  three  days  we  had  such  kind  of  fun,  if  you 
"  landsman"  choose  to  call  it  so.  I  could'nt  but  think 
of  the  words  of — "  O  carry  me  back  to  old  Virginia,  to 
old  Virginia  shore  /"  It  took  us  five  or  six  days  to  re 
turn  to  our  old  anchorage  ground,  all  alive  and  kicking, 
with  only  a  few  scratches  and  bruises.  We  W7ere  happy 
to  get  a  breathing  spell  for  a  fewr  days,  after  our  unpro 
fitable  excursion,  while  most  of  the  officers  were  on  shore 
at  Tampico,  drinking  mint  julips,  carousing,  &c.,  &c. 

"Hey,  Betty  Martin,  tip-toe  fine  !" 
Did'nt  we  go  it  strong  on  the  wine  1 


58  THE    HIGH    PRIVATE. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Officers'  arrival  on  board— Ordered  off  to  Lobos  Island— Fighting 
among  the  soldiers— Ditto.  Captain  and  Lieutenants— "  Board  stop 
ped" — Officers  "shut  down  on" — Begging  food  from  the  soldiers — 
More  "  promises  to  pay" — Liquor  gone — In  great  distress  ! 


"  Off  she  goes  !  off  she  goes  !  with  a  new  fore-top-sail ! 
Off  she  goes!  off  she  goes  !  to  Lobos  Island  ! 
Off  she  goes !" 

The  officers,  after  having  pretty  fine  times  atTampico, 
arrived  on  board  the  ship  quite  sober.  I  do  not  mean  to 
insinuate  that  they  were,  or  that  they  had  been  intoxica 
ted  while  in  Tampico — not  at  all !  But,  their  conduct 
was  such,  that  General  Patterson  thought  it  most  advisa 
ble  and  prudent  for  them  to  go  on  board  the  ship,  and  do 
their  duty  with  their  respective  companions,  and  accord 
ingly  ordered  us  to  sail  for  "  Lobos."  After  taking  on 
board  more  fresh  (dried,  for  it  was  the  driest  meat  I  ever 
sucked,)  beef,  water,  and  wood,  we  "  pulled  up  stakes," 
and  steered  for  "  Lobos,"  the  land  of — bugs,  insects,  liz 
ards,  tanturillas,  snakes,  land-crabs,  bad  water,  and  death! 
On  our  passage,  a  fight  would  frequently  occur,  generally 
to  the  amusement  of  the  bystanders — as  our  life  was  so 
monotonous,  that,  anything  in  the  shape  of  a  "  muss" 
was  very  acceptable ; — all  the  punishment  which  the 
combantants  were  awarded  with,  was  to  arrest  them  and 


THE    HIGH    PRIVATE.  59 

place  them  under  guard  for  a  short  time,  in  a  very  pleas 
ant  part  of  the  ship,  much  more  so  than  what  they  were 
in  the  habit  of  having  previous  to  the  fight;  the  sentence, 
of  course,  was  more  of  pleasure  than  of  punishment. 

During  the  passage,  a  beautiful  and  exciting  "fight" 
occurred  between  the  Captain  of  the  ship  and  a  Lieuten 
ant,  though,  diminutive  in  size,  he  was  fog  in  consequence, 
in  his  own  estimation  at  least.  Some  words  of  an  un 
pleasant  and  disagreeable  nature  passed  between  the  two 
heroes,  from  the  "  lie,"  and  "  you  lie,"  "  damn  coward," 
&c.,  came  blows,  clenching,  and  the  drawing  of  the  fatal 
sword  ! — when  they  were  parted,  raging,  and  raving,  like 
two  hyenas.  The  report  after  the  battle  was,  "  two 
slightly  wounded,  two  frightened,  and  none  killed." 

On,  or  about  this  time,  or  some  days  previous,  the  Cap 
tain  of  the  ship  began  to  consult  his  own  interest ;  and 
in  so  doing,  refused  to  board  the  officers,  until  they  "  paid 
up"  their  board-bill,  as  he  thought  it  had  been  standing 
or  laying  too  long  for  the  benefit  of  his  .purse.  Conse 
quently,  the  honorable's  pride  began  to  fall  about  fifty  per 
cent.  To  live  on  turkeys  and  chickens,  and  hot  cakes, 
and  then  to  be  reduced  to  live  on  salt  pork  and  crackers, 
was  too  bad — it  was  horrible  ! 

"  What,  Sir  !"  says  one  of  the  bravest,  "  are  not  New- 
York  officers'  credit  good  for  anything  they  might  call 
for  ?  Are  we,  Sir,  to  be  placed  on  a  par  wdth  common 
soldiers,  and  to  be  fed  on  pork  and  beans  ?  Such  con 
duct,  Sir,  is  not  to  be  tolerated  !" 

"  Gentlemen  !"  says  the  Captain,  "  I  am  master  of  this 
ship,  and  I  intend  to  be  so  as  long  as  God  gives  me 


60  THE    HIGH   PRIVATE. 

breath  !  If  you  call  yourselves  gentlemen  and  men  of 
honor,  why  don't  you  '  chalk  up?'  then  I  may  '  tolerate' 
you  !  Mark  my  words, — you  may  yet  be  compelled  to 
live  upon  worse  fare  than  what  the  '  common  soldier' 
gets, — at  any  rate,  you  eat  no  more  of  my  fowls  until 
you  'pint/' ' 

"  Oh !  what  a  downfall  was  there,  my  countrymen  !" 
OFFICERS  BEGGING  FOR  SOLDIERS'  RATIONS. 

After  having  been  virtually  kicked  out  of  the  cabin, 
the  "  poor  fellows"  came  to  our  Orderly  Sergeant,  and 
with  a  down-cast  look,  begged  for  a  little  "  nice  pork," 
with  "  trimmings," — that  they  had  got  tired  of  the  living 
in  the  cabin,  and  had  "  concluded"  to  take  some  of  the 
soldier's  rations,  which  they  would  pay  for  in  money,  at 
some  "future  time."  The  "  Coporal"  thinks,  that  the 
"  future"  will  be  as  long  as  the  "  future  state  of  punish 
ment." 

To  be  liberal  and  considerate  for  our  unfortunate  situa 
tion,  they  would  "  draw  a  little  from  each  company,"  so 
the  loss,  I  suppose,  would  not  fall  all  upon  one  company. 
Oh  !  what  a  kind,  considerate,  and  affectionate  set  of 
officers  !  Out  upon  such  hypocritical  and  "  considerate 
beings!"  Vanish  from  my  sight!  for  your  hearts  are  rot 
ten  with  deceit !  Where  are  all  those  solemn  "  promises 
of  extra  pay  ?" — forgotten  ? — yes,  all  forgotten  !  Self ! 
self!  and  "  the  devil  take  the  hindmost!"  was  their  mot 
to  ; — and  the  devil  will  take  them  one  of  these  odd  days 
of  trouble,  combustion,  and  telegraphic  navigation  ! 


END    OF   PAHT   FIRST. 


AN 


o  for  tl)e  Jfirst  part. 


The  "Corporal  of  the  Guard"  owes  an  apology  for  the  very 
hasty  manner,  in  which  the  first  part  of  his  plain  history  of  the 
"HIGH  PRIVATE,"  has  been  thrown  upon  the  public.  Un- 
forseen  accidents  and  disappointments  have  compelled  him  to  take 
this  course — that  instead  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  pages  for 
twenty-five  cents,  he  sends  forth  "into  this  breathing  world, 
scarce  half  made  up,"  sixty  pages  for  half  price:  and  should  it 
take,  the  "Corporal"  will  endeavor  to  give  a  sweeter  pie  next 
time,  cooked  up  in  his  best  style. 


Jfntrobiution  to  tl)e  0cconb  part. 

ON  "SCOTT'S  LINE." 


The  second  part  will  contain  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pages,  at  twenty-five  cents,  embellished  by  fifteen  or  twenty  en 
gravings  of  actual  characters  and  scenes  in  Mexico. 

It  will  be  interesting  and  highly  exciting;  giving  facts,  inci 
dents,  &c.,  as  they  actually  occurred,  without  fear,  favor  or  affec 
tion — or  "promises"  of  promotion — being  a  real  "camp  history" 
with  all  its  "mysteries  and  miseries;"  something  decidedly  rich! 
spiced  with  all  that  is  good  "both  for  the  soul  as  well  as  the 
body."  It  will  make  a  first  rate  Christmas  present. 
Respectfully, 

The  Public's  humble  servant, 

"CORPORAL  OF  THE  GUARD." 

Oct.  20,  1848. 


